British Fashion Council Finally Bans Fur!

It has taken a long time, but by banning fur from the runway, the British Fashion Council now fully recognises that fur belongs to the animals who are born in it.

PETA sincerely thanks its 100,000 supporters who called for the ban and the inspirational activists who stood their ground outside London Fashion Week to protest against fur at the event.

Almost none of today’s designers want to support an industry that electrocutes, poisons, gases, and skins sentient animals; pollutes the environment; and exposes workers to toxic chemicals, and this is why the London catwalk has been fur-free for years.

As London Fashion Week continues to evolve, PETA encourages the removal of all wild animal skins, leather, and feathers – as other fashion events have already done – because no animal willingly gives up their body parts or life for a garment.

Fur Is Dead

Minks are confined for their entire lives to cramped cages before they’re killed for their fur. Investigations into 26 mink fur factory farms in Denmark revealed sick, injured, and dead animals at every operation. Some minks suffered from extensive untreated bite wounds, and others were missing legs or ears as a result of fights, which inevitably break out when these naturally solitary animals are forced to live together in crowded conditions.

The Fur Industry Is Killing the Planet

Fur is treated with chemicals such as formaldehyde and chromium to prevent it from rotting, making it one of the most polluting materials in fashion. An independent study found that compared to other materials, fur has a higher environmental impact regarding 17 out of the 18 factors tested, including its contribution to the climate catastrophe and toxic emissions.

The Future of Fashion Is Vegan

Copenhagen Fashion Week has already banned fur, and several other events have extended their fur ban to include other cruelly obtained materials – the organisers of Helsinki Fashion Week have banned leather, and Melbourne Fashion Week now prohibits wild bird feathers.

Progressive brands – such as Ganni and Balenciaga – are paving the way for cruelty-free fashion by introducing innovative vegan materials like Ohoskin and vegan leather into their clothing lines.

There is an abundance of innovative vegan textiles available, and there is no excuse for torturing animals for their skin.

Urge the British Fashion Council to Go Cruelty-Free

While the council has taken a positive step forward, it must sprint in order to catch up with the progress being made by others in the fashion industry.

Please urge London Fashion Week organisers to also implement a ban on exotic skins, leather, feathers, and other animal-derived materials: