Luxury fashion house Gucci has announced it will no longer use animal fur in its products in a move its CEO hopes will change the luxury fashion sector for the better, and campaigners say is a step toward making supply chains that revolve around animals a thing of the past.
Announced yesterday (11 October) at the 2017 Kering Talk at The London College of Fashion by Gucci president and CEO Marco Bizzarri, the new policy will see the global fashion house refrain from using fur beginning with its spring/summer collection next year.
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Gucci’s fur-free policy includes mink, coyote, raccoon dog, fox, rabbit, and karakul (otherwise known as Swakara, Persian lamb or astrakhan) and all others species specially bred or caught for fur.
It follows a long-standing relationship with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and LAV – members of the international Fur Free Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 animal protection organisations working together to end the fur trade.
“Being socially responsible is one of Gucci’s core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals,” says Bizzarri. “With the help of HSUS and LAV, Gucci is excited to take this next step and hopes it will help inspire innovation and raise awareness, changing the luxury fashion industry for the better.”
Both The HSUS and LAV will continue to support Gucci in identifying and reducing its impact on animals and the environment, and welcome the announcement.
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By GlobalDataPJ Smith, senior manager of fashion policy for The HSUS, believes Gucci’s decision is a turning point for the fashion industry, which will come to mark when the business world turned away from fur.
Simone Pavesi, manager of animal free fashion for LAV, concurs. “Gucci’s decision will radically change the future of fashion. Respect for animals is becoming more entrenched in people’s values and the great names of fashion are gradually implementing social responsibility policies to reflect that. As fashion becomes more and more ethical, supply chains that revolve around animals will be a thing of the past.”
Meanwhile, the International Fur Federation said the news comes as a surprise.
“Claiming they have done this for environmental reasons makes no sense,” said CEO Mark Oaten. “Fur is the most natural fashion item. It comes from nature and lasts for decades unlike chemical-based fabrics or fake fur.
“The animals we use are farmed to the very highest standards and I am proud that we are working with many global brands to develop world-class traceability programmes.
“Despite the Gucci decision the catwalks remain full of fur and many top designers continue to use this natural and beautiful material which has a global trade value of over US$30bn.”
Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands and is part of the Kering Group, a world leader in apparel and accessories that owns a portfolio of powerful luxury and sport and lifestyle brands.
It joins many other leading fashion brands and retailers in going fur-free – including Armani, Hugo Boss, Yoox Net-a-Porter, and Stella McCartney – and will be part of the international Fur Free Retailer Program.
Earlier this year, US apparel giant VF Corp published its first-ever Animal Derived Materials Policy that means its brands will no longer use fur, angora or exotic leather in their products.
VF Corp bans fur and angora under new materials policy
