Photo: © Mulberry
Mulberry and Brooks Brothers have joined the growing list of brands to ban exotic animals from their collections.
The fashion world is evolving. Mulberry had previously banned fur from its collections as part of its fur-free policy, and now the British luxury brand will no longer be using the skins of crocodiles, alligators, snakes, ostriches and lizards, starting with their Spring/Summer 2020 collection.
Mulberry’s Group Sustainability Manager Rosie Wollacott said in a statement: “[W]e have spent a lot time determining and then continually reviewing our sustainability metrics and targets…. At an early stage of this process, we decided not to use exotics in our collections, and this remains our position.”
The decision was made after years of pressure from animal rights group PETA, who are urging designers to ban animals from their collections and take the steps necessary towards a more ethical world.
PETA Director Elisa Allen commented: “Mulberry’s decision to ban these cruelly obtained materials is a sign of the times.”
Brooks Brothers’ decision to stop ordering clothes with exotic animals is also the result of PETA’s work. This is a major step forward in men’s fashion as Brooks Brothers, founded in 1818, is the oldest men’s clothier in the United States.
“Behind every crocodile- or snake-skin item is an animal who experienced a violent, bloody death,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA thanks Brooks Brothers for protecting these vulnerable animals and points kind consumers to high-quality vegan materials that are the future of fashion.”
Other luxury brands and designers to have banned exotic animal skins include Chanel, Jil Sander, Diane von Furstenberg, Paul Smith, Hugo BOSS, Vivienne Westwood and Victoria Beckham. PETA is now calling on LVHM, who owns Louis Vuitton, to follow their steps.
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