In 2017, Gucci famously declared the use of animal fur “outdated” and removed the material from its product offering, setting off a flurry of fur-free commitments across the luxury industry.
Since then, that sentiment hasn’t filtered through to other animal-based materials, however. Most brands have resisted calls by animal rights groups to follow up their fur bans by ditching exotic skins. And many haven’t published policies governing how the animals in supply chains for popular items like leather handbags and woollen sweaters should be treated.
This points to a broader disconnect in the industry. Though shifting attitudes towards animal cruelty have moved fur from a luxury mainstay to a material avoided by all but a handful of labels, animal welfare is rarely discussed when it comes to more mainstream and lucrative fabrics like leather.
More than 40 percent of the 250 brands assessed as part of Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index last year had no animal welfare policy in place. And even where companies do have public standards, they are often outdated, according to animal rights groups. Few companies have enough visibility over their supply chains to credibly implement them.
Read the full story unpacking why animal welfare is rarely discussed when it comes to more mainstream and lucrative fabrics like leather. #linkinbio
✍️ @sarahkentnews
📷️ Getty Images
#animalwelfare #veganfashion
Since then, that sentiment hasn’t filtered through to other animal-based materials, however. Most brands have resisted calls by animal rights groups to follow up their fur bans by ditching exotic skins. And many haven’t published policies governing how the animals in supply chains for popular items like leather handbags and woollen sweaters should be treated.
This points to a broader disconnect in the industry. Though shifting attitudes towards animal cruelty have moved fur from a luxury mainstay to a material avoided by all but a handful of labels, animal welfare is rarely discussed when it comes to more mainstream and lucrative fabrics like leather.
More than 40 percent of the 250 brands assessed as part of Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index last year had no animal welfare policy in place. And even where companies do have public standards, they are often outdated, according to animal rights groups. Few companies have enough visibility over their supply chains to credibly implement them.
Read the full story unpacking why animal welfare is rarely discussed when it comes to more mainstream and lucrative fabrics like leather. #linkinbio
✍️ @sarahkentnews
📷️ Getty Images
#animalwelfare #veganfashion
