British fashion label Burberry announced that it will drop fur from all future collections.
According to the BBC, the brand will also stop the practice of burning its unsold items, effective immediately. “Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible,” said Burberry chief executive Marco Gobbetti.
Burberry, which uses rabbit, fox, mink, and raccoon fur in some of its collections, has considered dropping the material for a while. Last May, the fashion brand released a statement to the Sunday Times explaining it had left fur out of its September 2017 and February 2018 collections. The move was welcomed by the Humane Society International (HSI), an animal welfare organization that has worked with the label for many years to help it become more cruelty-free.
“The few fashion houses refusing to modernise and listen to the overwhelming public opinion against fur are now sticking out like a sore thumb,” a spokesperson for international animal rights organization, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), told the BBC. “If they want to stay relevant in a changing industry, they have no choice but to stop using fur stolen from animals for their coats, collars, and cuffs.”
fashion is going cruelty-free
A number of designer brands have ditched fur from their designs in recent months, including Gucci, Versace, DKNY, and Belstaff. Marco Bizzarri, CEO of Gucci, and Donatella Versace, Vice President of Versace, have labeled the material as outdated and unnecessary in modern fashion respectively.
Many High Street brands have also joined the quest for the future of ethical fashion; last July, it was reported that over 100 retailers, including Missguided and Boohoo, had dropped mohair from all designs.
One designer determined to pioneer cruelty-free and sustainable fashion is Stella McCartney, who has just launched her autumn collection of “fur-free fur” coats, jumpsuits, and accessories made from acrylic. The resemblance to real fur is said to be uncanny. McCartney’s brand firmly supports a ban against the sale of animal fur, writing on its website, “We are proud to voice or support in favour of banning the sale of fur in the UK with the hope of moving closer to a cruelty free fashion industry.”
Image Credit: Burberry
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