The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation, says that it has been informed by the leading winter sports clothing and equipment company Rossignol that they will no longer source fur for use in their clothing.
The Rossignol Group – which owns 12 brands that are sold in over 6,000 outlets around the world and distributed in 51 countries – joins a growing list of companies that have recently taken a stand against fur.
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear” – states that the traps used in North America to catch coyotes who are killed for their fur are not only horrifically cruel but also indiscriminate, since companion animals and even threatened species also fall victim to them.
“On fur farms in Europe, China, and elsewhere, animals are confined to cramped wire cages, denied everything that’s natural and important to them, and killed by electrocution, neck-breaking, or drowning,” the organisation states.
In a letter to PETA France, Nathalie Bonnaigue, Rossignol’s Legal Director wrote, “I can …confirm that our group pledges to no longer buy fur to include into its products with immediate effect.”
“Today’s stylish skiers want nothing to do with the cruel fur industry,” says PETA Director of Corporate Projects Yvonne Taylor. “Rossignol is the latest in a long line of luxury fashion brands to recognise that fur is dead, and PETA is calling on any out-of-touch retailer still selling coats, collars, and cuffs made from tormented animals to get with the times and do the same.”
“As “ethical” and “sustainable” are currently two of the biggest buzzwords in fashion, it’s easy to see why designers and retailers are rejecting animal fur at breakneck speed. Real fur must be treated with a host of chemicals – many of them toxic – to prevent it from decomposing in buyers’ wardrobes, and fur dressing has been identified as a major polluter. In contrast, high-quality faux furs, like those used by Gucci and Shrimps, are produced in closed-loop factories, making them the obvious choice for environmentally conscious fashionistas wanting the look of fur.”
