Fur's Out, Apple Leather's in. Luxury Retailer Neiman Marcus Will Launch New Ethical Collections this Spring
The move signals how the fashion industry is stepping away from bygone industries into a whole new exciting world of cutting-edge materials.
Photo: Prota Fiori
The fashion industry is looking beyond mothballed mink coats and straggly fox scarves to a new era of fashion that puts animal ethics at the forefront. Over the last few years, one by one, powerhouses including Gucci, Michael Kors, and Burberry have publicly shunned fur from their collections, signaling the end of an industry that has been killing animals in the name of fashion for far too long.
One luxury designer who has followed suit is U.S. retailer, Neiman Marcus Group (NMG). The company adopted a new Animal Welfare Policy in the summer of last year by working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and committed to removing all fur products from its brands, including Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, by March 2023.
Nine months since the announcement, fur inventory levels across NMG have been reduced by more than half, according to the company. Faux fur fashion items such as $3,495 Saint Laurent jackets and $1,100 Rosantica bags are lining the shelves, ready to help customers discover the world of ethical alternatives, while still satisfying the tastes of those looking for luxury.
"It is clear the future is fur-free, and that includes the ultra-luxury space. As a leader in luxury retail, NMG has an opportunity to help build a better future for our industry," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Group. "Since our announcement, we've seen many of our brand partners join this movement, further assisting our efforts to implement this much-needed change and create a more sustainable future for fashion."
Alongside its fur ban, NMG is keen to explore exciting new sustainable and ethical products to help the group hit its goal of increasing revenue from these alternatives by 2025. The company is launching two new edits at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman - 'Fashioned for Change' and 'Conscious Curation' - which will launch this spring. The programs will feature products made from sustainable materials, including Prota Fiori’s upcycled apple and grape leather footwear made in Italy.
“If fashion businesses want to remain sustainable and successful, they have to adapt to the causes consumers care about,” Humane Society fashion policy director PJ Smith told Vogue Business. “NMG going fur free is a signal to the rest of the industry that moving away from fur is inevitable.”
Existing fur salons at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores will be converted into spaces customized for modern luxury experiences such as featuring alterations, personalization, dining, and other experiential customer moments.
"We intend to continue offering customers access to fur services, including storage, alterations, and repairs," said Demuth. "Our experts are trained on caring for, maintaining, and altering existing fur products, lowering the demand for new ones while driving progress toward our ESG goal to extend the useful life of 1,000,000 luxury items through circular services by 2025."
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