Army Of PETA ‘Rabbits’ Invade Piccadilly Circus To Protest Fur In Run-Up To Fashion Week

For Immediate Release:
17 February 2011

Contact:
Sandra Smiley +44 (0)207 357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

London – Fed up with people pinching their pelts, an army of 10 giant “rabbits” from PETA invaded Piccadilly Circus today. Carrying signs that read, “Save Our Skins – Don’t Wear Fur!” and “Have a Heart – Don’t Wear Fur”, the colossal cottontails were protesting against the use of fur for clothing just in time for London Fashion Week, which starts tomorrow. They are calling on people to join the compassionate 95 per cent of Britons – including many fashion designers and style icons – who refuse to wear fur.

PETA’s rabbits are riled that fur wearers continue to support the slaughter of animals for their skin. On fur farms, animals spend their entire lives in tiny, filthy cages, where they suffer physical and psychological distress before being killed by poisoning, gassing, anal electrocution or neck-breaking. In China, which is now the world’s leading fur exporter, animals who are killed for their fur are often skinned alive – including millions of rabbits, cats and dogs.

“In the run-up to London Fashion Week, we want to remind consumers that cruelty is vile, not vogue!” says PETA special projects coordinator Mandy Carter. “The fur trade is a violent, bloody industry. With so many warm, comfortable and chic fashions available, there is no excuse for torturing animals for fur coats, cuffs or collars.”

Many top fashion designers – including Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger – refuse to use fur in their collections, and fashionistas Leona Lewis, Eva Mendes, Natalie Portman, Fearne Cotton, Kelly Osbourne, Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama are all fur-free.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.