BREAKING: PETA Supporters Crash The Fashion Awards Red Carpet in Push to End Use of Feathers
2 December 2024
BREAKING: PETA Supporters Crash The Fashion Awards Red Carpet in Push to End Use of Feathers
London – Moments ago, two PETA supporters stormed onto the red carpet at The Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall bearing signs proclaiming, “Feathers Are Worn by Beautiful Birds And Ugly People” to call attention to the cruel ways birds are raised and killed for their feathers and urge the fashion world to swear off their use. The animal allies brought the star-studded soirée to a standstill before being hauled away by security.
Photos and video footage of the disruption are available here, here and here.
“Every feathered frock and down-filled jacket spells misery for sensitive birds, who are tormented, plucked, and violently slaughtered for their plumage,” says PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner. “PETA is calling on designers and compassionate consumers everywhere to leave birds in peace and embrace innovative vegan materials that no one had to suffer and die for.”
In nature, ostriches stay with their parents for up to 3 years. 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. Other birds fare no better: peacock farms may hold as many as 10,000 birds in cramped conditions, and sickness and injuries are common. “Marabou” feathers, meanwhile, usually come from turkeys and chickens, who spend their entire lives confined to filthy cages or crowded sheds before being violently killed.
PETA Asia investigators visited duck farms and slaughterhouses in Vietnam connected to companies and brands that sell misleadingly named “responsible” down – including Moncler Group’s Stone Island, whose CEO, Remo Ruffin, is being honoured at the awards for being a ‘trailblazer’– and exposed the terror birds endure at these facilities. As the investigative footage revealed, workers mercilessly stab ducks, slit their throats, and cut off their feet while they’re still alive.
In light of the inherent cruelty of the feather trade, a growing number of designers are moving away from feathers and opting for animal-friendly materials. Stella McCartney recently launched a Feather-Free Pledge in collaboration with PETA – which Felder Felder, Richard Malone, Patrick McDowell, and Vin + Omi have already signed. PETA is calling on Moncler Group to follow suit and ditch feathers.
Contact:
Lucy Watson +44 (0) 20 7837 6327; [email protected]
#