London Fashion Week bans wild animal skins
The skins of wild animals, such as crocodiles, alligators, and snakes, will be banned on the runway from 2025.
London Fashion Week is banning all wild animal skins from the runway, becoming the first of the “big four” fashion weeks - alongside New York, Paris, and Milan - to take this step.
The British Fashion Council’s (BFC) deputy director for policy and engagement, David Leigh-Pemberton, announced the ban in a speech to parliament this week.
Starting in 2025, brands that want to appear on its schedule must ensure the materials used in their collections are free from the skins of wild animals, such as crocodiles, alligators, and snakes.
Leigh-Pemberton said the wild animal skins ban came as part of a wider package of standards introduced under the BFC’s Institute of Positive Fashion.
“We know that many of our designers have strong ethics and are working towards more sustainable practices and accurate measurement. We are committed to providing our network with tools and resources to help them on this journey.”
This decision follows the BFC’s previous fur ban, adopted in December 2023. The organization is currently seeking consultation about feather use.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), well-known for crashing runways to protest against the fashion industry's use of animals, welcomed the announcement.
“We salute the compassionate British designers who helped usher in this new policy by recognising that crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and other animals should never be bludgeoned, impaled, or beheaded for their skin,” said Yvonne Taylor, PETA’s vice president of corporate projects. “The future of fashion is animal-free – and the future is now.”
Investigations by PETA have revealed that animals used in the exotic skins industry are forced to live in appalling conditions before they’re electroshocked, bludgeoned, or even skinned alive to be used in luxury handbags, belts, wallets, and other fashion items.
Photo: PETA
Dr Charlotte Regan, a wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection UK, said the decision sent an “important message throughout the global fashion industry that exploiting animals for their skins is both unethical and unnecessary.
“Millions of animals continue to suffer and die for fashion when there are so many innovative and exciting animal-friendly materials designers and clothing companies can choose to create with instead,” Regan continued. “With both fur and now wild animal skins banned from London Fashion Week, our attention turns to the use of wild bird feathers in fashion. We look forward to working with the British Fashion Council on the last step of their journey to being a completely wildlife-free event.”
Copenhagen Fashion Week announced earlier this year that it would ban feathers from its shows from 2025.
Emma Hakansson, founding director of Collective Fashion Justice said: “We also know there is more to do, continuing the conversation on feathers towards what we hope will be a totally wildlife-free policy.
“For decades, brands have banned fur, stating an opposition to killing animals specifically for fashion. This is exactly what happens to the crocodiles, snakes, ostriches and other wild animals skinned and plucked for fashion too, making bans on these skins and feathers consistent with an existing and widely agreed upon ethical premise.
“Momentum for wildlife protection in fashion is building, as the organizations have helped to deliver totally wildlife-free policies across Copenhagen, Berlin and Melbourne Fashion Week.”
Although London Fashion Week tends to feature smaller, emerging designers—making the wild animal skin ban easier to implement—there has also been notable progress among high-end luxury brands. Designers like Burberry, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and many others have now banned the use of skins from reptiles and other wildlife from their collections.
Take Action Now
Species Unite is calling on Louis Vuitton to join the modern age of compassionate fashion by committing to stop supporting the torture of crocodiles and the use of exotic skins. Please add your name and join us in condemning this practice and asking Pietro Beccari, CEO of Louis Vuitton, to do the right thing.
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
