Gucci Announces They’re No Longer Selling Fur In 2018… But What About Leather?
It’s official: World renowned Italian fashion brand Gucci will no longer be selling fur products.
Set to be implemented by 2018, animal activists are calling the ban a “game changer” in the fashion industry, and it’s no doubt a step in the right direction. Fast fashion has been a significant contributor to animal cruelty for a long time. Wearing fur used to be a necessity in colder climates centuries ago when there were limited or no other alternatives, but at this point it’s simply a fashion statement. We have access to innovative, cheaper materials that can keep us equally if not more warm, yet we continue to torture and kill animals for their fur. Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, announced the fur ban on Wednesday at the 2017 Kering Talk at the London College of Fashion. After announcing the ban, Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri explained, “Being socially responsible is one of Gucci’s core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals.” Gucci maintains that this shift can be attributed to their new creative director, Alessandro Michele. “In selecting a new creative director, I wanted to find someone who shared a belief in the importance of the same values. I sensed that immediately on meeting Alessandro for the first time,” Bizzarri said. But, wait; it gets better. Gucci’s remaining items made of fur will be auctioned off, and the proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society and Italian animal rights organization LAV. This is a really wonderful step in the right direction, as the fashion industry is no stranger to animal cruelty, but it’s doesn’t mean they’re banning all animal products.
They’ll still be selling all of their leather goods. Sometimes, when we see the fur on a piece of clothing, we can detach from the reality of its production. We’re not seeing it on a murdered animal, we’re seeing it on a clothing rack, so we don’t always make the connection. And so, we continue to wear our snakeskin purses and our leather belts without so much as batting our eyelashes because we don’t think about what these consumer items once were. We don’t envision the deaths of these animals, we simply see the fashion items we so desperately desire. Consumerism can be blinding, which is why it’s so important to share this type of information! We’re not trying to scare you, nor are we telling you you’re a bad person if you wear fur or leather. We’re just reminding you of what these products once were: living beings.
These furry friends who get turned into the latest fashion trends did not live full, beautiful lives.
They were likely tortured to death, as many animals are electrocuted to death so their blood doesn’t splatter all over their fur.
They live in tiny cages and barely see the light of day, if at all. It’s not just devastating for the animals, but for the environment as well. Fast fashion has been an ongoing issue for decades. Many people will argue that leather and fur are more durable and more environmentally sustainable, but at this stage that’s simply no longer true.
There are cruelty-free options available that produce far less pollution and emissions. Although Gucci still has a long way to go until they become a cruelty-free company, this is still a step in the right direction. Yes, they still produce leather products, which is a devastating reality, but at least they’re starting to understand the issue with killing animals for fashion and are beginning to reflect that in their product line. Much love! .
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