With London Fashion Week just days away, Burberry has announced they will stop using real animal fur in their designs and will no longer destroy unsold products. Reps also confirmed that the brand will not send any real fur down its catwalks during fashion week. Chief executive Marco Gobbetti said, “Our responsibility goals cover the entire footprint of our operations and extend to the communities around us. Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible.”1
As Burberry fazes out the use of rabbit, fox, mink, Asiatic raccoon and angora, they join companies like Armani, Versace, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, and Stella McCartney who have also banned the use of fur from their designs. And it’s about time.
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PETA director of international programs, Mimi Bekhechi said “This decision is a sign of the times, as today’s shoppers are seeing fur for what it is: the skin of animals. The few fashion houses refusing to modernize and listen to the overwhelming public opinion against fur are now sticking out like a sore thumb for all the wrong reasons. If they want to stay relevant in a changing industry, they have no choice but to stop using fur stolen from animals for their coats, collars, and cuffs.”2 Besides, there are plenty of sustainable options for those who want to look like they are wrapped in fur.
The iconic British retailer also announced they will no longer dispose of unwanted and unsold stock by destroying it. (Something they claimed to do “responsibly.”) In late July, the company suffered serious backlash when it was discovered that they had destroyed around $37 million worth of goods in 2018 alone. And get this, they have been allegedly doing this “to maintain the brand value by keeping the designer label from being worn by the ‘wrong people’.”3 Lovely. Does this sound like the type of company you’d want to give your money to?
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I’m still not going to buy anything they sell but I’m glad to know they will no longer be killing animals in order to sell outer ware.
