Louis Vuitton: Using Animal Skins Is Not Humane
In response to Louis Vuitton’s statements that 100% of the animals used for the company’s products are “humanely farmed”, PETA has one major question: how in the world could the exotic-skins industry – in which workers sometimes skin crocodiles alive and stun ostriches with electricity before slitting their throats – be considered humane?
The answer: it isn’t. In a letter to Michael Burke, the CEO of Louis Vuitton, PETA US pushed back against his recent claims that the company uses humanely sourced materials:
“Despite this assurance to consumers, there is no such thing as ‘humanely farmed’ animals who are violently killed and skinned for Louis Vuitton products.”
No matter how animals are killed, there’s no humane way to exploit them for their skins.
Crocodiles and Ostriches Are Killed for Their Skins
A PETA video exposé of a crocodile farm in Vietnam that has supplied skins to LVMH (the parent company of Louis Vuitton) showed crocodiles packed into concrete enclosures, some narrower than the length of their bodies. At another farm, crocodiles were packed into small, filthy concrete pits with other reptiles, exposing them to injury, disease, and aggression – one crocodile was even missing a tail.
Another PETA exposé of the largest ostrich slaughter companies in the world – including Klein Karoo International, which supplied ostrich leather to Louis Vuitton – revealed workers striking ostriches in the face during transport, forcibly restraining them, pushing them into stun boxes, and slitting their throats in front of others slated for a similar fate.
In addition, LVMH has yet to join the long list of designers that have gone fur-free, even though multiple investigations into the fur industry have revealed cruelty across the board.
The Skins Industry Is Cruel
No animal should be used for clothing or accessories under any circumstances, but these horrifying conditions are standard. No matter how far the company goes to “humane wash” its products, the skins industry is still harming and exploiting animals.
As described in a report that LVMH was provided with in 2016, this cruelty is standard wherever animals are killed for human use. And PETA’s exposés of the wool, down, and leather industries have revealed that it’s nothing but wishful thinking to expect that certifications – which neither Louis Vuitton nor LVMH even require for all suppliers in their chain – somehow prevent egregious harm.
Crocodiles are magnificent animals who can live to be 80 years old in their natural habitat, where they enjoy playing and digging tunnels. Ostriches are the fastest land animals on two legs and can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. These animals don’t belong in captivity, on cutting tables, or in accessories – no animal does.
What You Can Do
Dozens of major designers and retailers, including Calvin Klein, Chanel, Liberty, and Selfridges, have removed exotic skins from their collections. PETA will continue to put the pressure on LVMH executives until they get the memo that animals are not ours to exploit for handbags, clothing, or anything else. Will you join us?
