The Fashion Labels Making A Pledge to Go Fur Free

Hayley Kadrou   |   10-06-2019

Some habits die hard, and using fur to make clothes, coats and accessories seemed for a long time to be one of them. But in 2019, more and more fashion houses are finally going fur-free, proving the time for change has truly arrived.

 

Once upon a time, using animal fur to line our gloves and drape over our shoulders was not only practical but most-likely necessary; when options of fabrics were limited and many synthetic materials were yet to be invented, keeping safe and warm in extreme temperatures could be tricky.

 

But now in 2019, the same narrative no longer exists for many people populating the earth. And as the planet wakes up to the need to care for the environment – from making more sustainable consumer choices to opting for a plant-based diet – many have opened their eyes to the steps the fashion industry needs to play in the movement, too.

 

One of those key things is going fur-free with their collections. While designers such as Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood,  Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger have long put a ban on using animal fur within their collection, other high-end names have just started to catch up.

 

Here are some of the names that have, in more recent years, joined the movement.

 

Prada pledges to go fur free from 2020

Prada pledges to go fur-free from 2020

 

Prada

 

Prada – and the companies that operate underneath it, such as Mui Mui – pledged to go fur-free by 2020 earlier this year. Head Designer at the Italian fashion house, Miuccia Prada, said in a statement: “The Prada Group is committed to innovation and social responsibility, and our fur-free policy… is an extension of that engagement. Focusing on innovative materials will allow the company to explore new boundaries of creative design while meeting the demand for ethical products.”

 

Versace

 

In March 2018, Donatella Versace let the world know where she stands when it comes to the use of animal fur in clothing. The Vice President of the label  – which was created by her late brother Gianni Versace in 1978 – said some 40 years later: “Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right.”

 

Burberry

 

In September 2018, Burberry announced it will discontinue the use of fur, too. The changes came after Riccardo Tisci joined the London-born brand as Chief Creative Officer. Marco Gobbetti, Burberry’s chief executive officer, said at the time: “Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible. This belief is core to us at Burberry and key to our long-term success. We are committed to applying the same creativity to all parts of Burberry as we do to our products.”

 

Micheal Kors

 

In December 2017, the American designer revealed he would be the next to join the movement. Along with the pledge, the Jimmy Choo lines (which sits underneath the designer’s label) will also ban the furry material. Simply put, Kors himself explained: “Due to technological advances in fabrications, we now have the ability to create a luxe aesthetic using non-animal fur.”

 

Giorgio Armani 

 

In 2016, Armani pledged its allegiance with human’s furry friends by signing the pledge too.  A statement read: “I am pleased to announce that the Armani Group has made a firm commitment to abolish the use of animal fur in its collections. Technological progress made over the years allows us to have valid alternatives at our disposition that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary as regards animals. Pursuing the positive process undertaken long ago, my company is now taking a major step ahead, reflecting our attention to the critical issues of protecting and caring for the environment and animals.”

 

Other fur-free fashion brands include Bottega Veneta, Diane Von Furstenberg, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood.

 

 

donatella versace fur

Donatella Versace has proclaimed the brand fur free

 

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