Fashion’s animal anti-cruelty movement

Victoria Beckham joins Chanel, Diane Von Furstenberg and Vivienne Westwood in pledging to stop using exotic skins in her designsTimes are changing and one word that designers worldwide are adapting in their brand identity is ‘responsible’ fashion. Ethical clothing brands are working against fast and disposable fashion, the use of plastic and synthetic fabrics is being replaced by organic textiles, brands are moving against the elimination of sweatshop operations, child labour and abuse of human resources. It’s an altogether different fashion world we’re hoping for, if not already looking at. Currently the movement against animal cruelty is on the rise and it’s looking at the elimination of exotic skins, feathers and fur from fashion.One name prominent in joining the movement is Victoria Beckham, who has already eliminated every trace of animal fur in any of her fashion collections. Now the designer has gone one step further and just pledged that exotic animal skins are set to be banned across the board too.In a recently released statement, the brand confirmed, “Victoria Beckham will cease the use of exotic skins in all collections as of AW19. The Victoria Beckham brand has never used fur in its clothing or accessories collections and confirmed last year that the brand will remain fur-free.”The news has been welcomed by PETA whose director, Elisa Allen, told us, “Behind every crocodile, alligator, snake, or lizard handbag or pair of shoes is a violent death. Victoria Beckham’s decision to ban exotic skins will spare countless remarkable animals immense suffering, and PETA calls on other luxury brands to follow her kind example.”The announcement comes just a few days before the Victoria Beckham London Fashion Week show (which is back in town again after last year) and certainly follows a recent shift in tolerance against animal cruelty, with Chanel also unveiling its plan to no longer use fur or exotic skins in future collections. Diane Von Furstenberg and Vivienne Westwood have too joined the anti-cruelty movement.PETA have praised the designers for making a “compassionate decision.” Let’s hope more designers follow suit.– With information from Annabelle Spranklen,Glamour

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