Say goodbye to Mink coats: Italian fashion
king Giorgio Armani said Tuesday he would no longer use any real animal fur
in
his collections, saying there was no excuse to indulge in such “cruel
practices”.
The designer and dresser of stars such as singer Beyonce and actress
Cate
Blanchett said fur would be out from his autumn- winter 2016/2017 collection
onwards, with artificial pelts taking its place.
“I am pleased to announce that the Armani Group has made a firm
commitment
to abolish the use of animal fur in its collections,” the 81-year old,
credited with pioneering red-carpet fashion, said in a statement.
“Technological progress made over the years allows us to have valid
alternatives at our disposition that render the use of cruel practices
unnecessary,” he added.
According to the Free Fur Alliance, a coalition of 40 organizations
for the
protection of animals, most fur sold globally is from farmed animals, such
as
minks, foxes, rabbits and chinchillas — killed with methods ranging from
gassing to neck-breaking and anal electrocution, in order to preserve the
fur
in a good condition.
“With this decision, the luxury brand is responding to growing consumer
demand for ethical and sustainable fashion”, the alliance said. It added
that
worldwide more than 80 million mink and foxes were killed in 2014, only for
fashion.
Humane Society International said Armani going fur free was “probably
the
most powerful message yet that killing animals for fur is never
fashionable”. (AFP)