John Galliano Is the Latest Major Designer to Drop Fur
John Galliano – a long-time PETA target – announces in this week’s Elle France that he’ll no longer use fur in his designs. The article, titled “An Anti-Fur Duo”, reveals how a chance meeting with PETA US VP Dan Mathews prompted the designer to drop fur and become a vegetarian.
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“I was swimming in the sea with Penélope Cruz in Saint-Tropez. And just then, Dan’s face popped out of the water. It was like in Jaws – very frightening! I knew PETA’s work, I respected them, but their reputation preceded them,” says Galliano, who cites a dated desire for debauchery as the lure of fur. “You can be outrageous and fun without fur! Come and party with us, you’ll see!”
The two became friends, meeting in Paris to examine the latest fabrics replacing animal skins, such as cork. Galliano also credits his dog, Gipsy, as an influence. “He is part of the therapy that I started in Arizona. The idea is to take care of someone else, to get out of my egocentrism: my life is more balanced. I really became a vegetarian in order to get in better shape. I play sports, I take care of myself and I’ve never been more clear-eyed. The energy that I get from having fewer toxins in my body is extraordinary. The pressure in the fashion industry is the same, but now I know how to step away and meditate, and my life has gone from black to white!”
The rare, candid interview with the unlikely duo took place last month at Galliano’s Paris studio, where he designs for Maison Margiela, a luxury brand that has seen profits rise by 30 per cent since Galliano took over in 2015, according to the company’s Wikipedia page.
Galliano is the fifth major designer to have made the decision to drop fur this past winter – along with Gucci, Versace, Donna Karan, and Michael Kors, who announced his decision immediately after a meeting with Mathews in December. “The fashion world is finally evolving,” says Mathews. “More and more designers are showing that you can be even more creative without being destructive to animals.”
What You Can Do
Fur farming has been illegal in the UK for nearly two decades, but this cruel industry continues to operate in several other European countries. Please sign our petition to Sweden’s government urging it to shut down the country’s fur farms, where up to 1 million minks suffer and die every year.
Take Action
Jo-Anne McArthur | We Animals
