Will ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Go Feather-Free?
We love the dazzling performances Strictly Come Dancing brings to our screens, but we have a major concern: the series’ use of feathers. On the heels of a recent flurry of feathered ensembles hitting the stage, PETA is cutting in.
We sent a letter to Executive Producer Sarah James highlighting the cruelty birds raised and killed for their feathers are subjected to. It’s time the programme quickstepped the violently obtained material out of its wardrobe department.
‘Strictly’: Quickstep Cruelty out of Your Costumes
Behind every feathered frock on the dancefloor is a once-living bird who was shocked, slaughtered, and violently plucked for their plumage.
In their natural habitat, ostriches form strong social bonds, nurture their young for up to three years, and can live for more than 40 years. Yet in the fashion industry, workers forcibly restrain ostriches as young as 1 year old, electrically stun them, and slit their throats before tearing the feathers from their still-warm bodies.
The use of other birds, like pheasants, parrots, and peacocks, in the fashion industry is shrouded in secrecy, breeding black-market activity. One investigation into peacock farms in China found that birds were confined to plastic bags taped at the legs to protect their profitable feathers and denied the opportunity to express natural movements and behaviour. Live-plucking causes birds immense pain and – sometimes fatal – injuries.
Feathers described as “marabou” almost always come from turkeys and chickens who have endured a short, miserable life on a dark, filthy factory farm, where sick birds are crammed together and have barely enough room to stretch a single wing.
Let’s Foxtrot to Faux Feathers
Have you seen the latest Victoria’s Secret show? The iconic brand wowed audiences with stunning designs made exclusively from beautiful handcrafted faux feathers. Watch snippets here:
Cruelty is never in fashion, and feathers – just like fur – are being shunned as consumers demand animal-friendly materials instead. Berlin, Copenhagen, and Melbourne fashion weeks have all banned feathers from wild birds from their shows.
More designers are moving away from cruelly obtained feathers. Stella McCartney recently launched a feather-free pledge in collaboration with PETA – which Felder Felder, Richard Malone, Patrick McDowell, and VIN + OMI, among others, have already signed.
You, too, can dance away from cruelty by signing the pledge and promising never to wear or buy feathers:
