P!nk And Ricky Gervais Remind New York Fashion Week of the Suffering Behind Fur And Exotic Skins

WEAR

Sep 24

During the opening of New York Fashion Week and Fendi’s runway show, a video narrated by Ricky Gervais and P!nk exposed the animal cruelty behind the fur and exotic skin trades.

The animal rights activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged an eye-catching protest during the opening of New York Fashion Week. Protestors sent a vehicle to the Fashion Week’s main venue, Spring Studios, which played a film revealing the cruelty of the fur and leather industries. The back of the truck said: “Animals Pay the Ultimate Price for ‘Fashion.’ Wear Vegan.”

The film, “Stolen for Fashion”, features singer P!nk and actor Ricky Gervais, who voice the animals who have been skinned for their fur. In the mobile message, the stars voice a computer-generated alligator and rabbit respectively, who are demanding their skin back, noting that however much a human paid for a crocodile-skin bag and a fur coat, the animals have “paid a lot more!”

The organization also placed dozens of posters around Spring Studios, which featured artwork designed to address the climate impact of the fashion industry’s use of animals. The imagery, created by ad agency Archer Troy, shows a fashion runway in a devastated environment with the following message: “Leather Sucks the Planet Dry. Your Leather Outfit Is Killing Animals and the Planet.”

“Fur and skins are the bits and pieces of sensitive animals who didn’t want to die, and in 2022, there’s no excuse to dress like a Neanderthal,” says PETA U.S. Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on New York Fashion Week to showcase the vegan fabrics and designs that show respect for animals and the environment.”

PETA’s campaign was specifically targeting Italian fashion house Fendi, which still uses fur and exotic skins in its collections. Despite the majority of luxury fashion companies publicly shunning fur, LVMH - Fendi’s parent company - still show no signs of moving away from the animal-based material.

A new partnership between Fendi, Imperial College London and Central Saint Martins University of the Arts is working to develop lab-grown fur fibers for luxury fashion, citing environmental reasons. However, Alexandre Capelli, LVMH’s environment development deputy director, told Vogue Business they don’t intend to replace animal-based fur altogether.

Animals Killed for Fashion

An estimated 100 million animals are slaughtered for their fur every year - 95 percent of them are intensively farmed. Numerous investigations into fur farms have revealed animals confined to filthy wire cages before they are gassed, electrocuted, bludgeoned, or have their necks broken.

Meanwhile, undercover investigations into the exotic-skins industry have revealed similar abuse, with many even skinned alive.

New High Fashion

Luxury mushroom leather handbag. Credit: Stella McCartney

Due to growing consumer demand and the rise of sustainable, exciting alternatives, the tide is turning in the fashion industry. More and more brands are learning that consumers don’t want to wear items that destory the planet and harm animals. That’s where next-gen materials come in.

These high-tech innovative vegan materials are ushering in a new era of luxury fashion, providing designers with non-animal, non-plastic alternatives to leather, fur, silk, viscose, polyester and more. And with the market for next-gen materials expected to hit $2.2 billion by 2026, the space is quickly gathering momentum.

As more companies enter the market, the technology behind next-generation materials is diversifying, according to the non-profit Material Innovation. Historically, the primary source of materials for leather alternatives have been derived from plants, but to more accurately mimic the functionality and aesthetics of animal-based leather, new companies are now using mycelium and microbe-derived materials.

With a wardrobe filled with apple leather boots and faux fur scarves, Species Unite founder Elizabeth Novograrz is one of the pioneers embracing these next-gen materials. This October, step into Elizabeth’s world with the Species Unite 30-Day challenge, where you’ll discover everything you need to know about plant-based living, from recipes that will trick your most carnivorous friends to shoes, boots and bags made from some of the most magical plants on the planet. Take part here!

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.

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