(Natalia Seregina / Shutterstock.com)
Italian fashion company Gucci last week accounced that, starting with its 2018 Spring-Summer collectoin, it will no longer be using animal fur in their products.
And more than that, all of the fashion house's remaining fur products – including mink, coyote, raccoon dog, fox, rabbit, and karakul – will be sold at a charity auction to benefit the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and LAV, the Italian animal protection organization.
“Being socially responsible is one of Gucci’s core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals. With the help of HSUS and LAV, Gucci is excited to take this next step and hopes it will help inspire innovation and raise awareness, changing the luxury fashion industry for the better,” Marco Bizzarri, Gucci’s President and CEO, said.
The ground-breaking announcement is part of Gucci’s new partnership with the Fur Free Alliance – a group of 40 organizations and designers that have vowed to stop using fur products in their collections - including Armani, Hugo Boss, Yoox Net-a-Porter, and Stella McCartney.
PJ Smith, the senior manager of fashion policy for HSUS, said: “With this announcement, Gucci will help to change the way the luxury fashion industry considers animals.”
“There is a growing segment of new, ethically-minded consumers who care about innovation and social responsibility and want nothing to do with outdated and inherently cruel products, like fur. Gucci understands this and will likely reap the benefits as a result.”
Simone Pavesi, the manager of animal-free fashion for LAV, said: “Respect for animals is becoming more entrenched in people’s values and the great names of fashion are gradually implementing social responsibility policies to reflect that. As fashion becomes more and more ethical, supply chains that revolve around animals will be a thing of the past.”
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