Chanel has become one of the first luxury brands to put a stop to using exotic animal skins in their collections.
Chanel will no longer be using skin from crocodiles, lizards, snakes or stingrays, with their range of python skin bags taken down from the Chanel website as of Tuesday, December 4.
As part of this brilliant move forward, the high-end fashion house will also be banning the use of fur from animals such as raccoon, dogs, minks and rabbits. However, it will reportedly be a while until existing products are no longer in shops.
Chanel will reportedly research and develop sustainable ‘agri-food’ textiles and leathers for their designs which will have a reduced impact on the environment.
It was reportedly becoming more difficult to source pelts which met Chanel’s quality and ethical standards.
A Chanel spokesperson told CNN:
At Chanel, we are continually reviewing our supply chains to ensure they meet our expectations of integrity and traceability.
In this context, it is our experience that it is becoming increasingly difficult to source exotic skins which match our ethical standards.
In recent years, genuine fur has increasingly been viewed as outdated and unfashionable, with many brands committing themselves to fake fur.
Other designers who’ve eschewed the use of real fur include Gucci, Burberry, John Galliano, Armani, Coach, Donatella Versace and Michael Kors.
Speaking with industry publication Women’s Wear Daily, Chanel’s couturier Karl Lagerfeld said:
There is a problem of supply and that was not Chanel’s business anyway. We did it because it’s in the air, but it’s not an air people imposed to us. It’s a free choice.
Animal rights campaigners have praised this sign of progress, calling for more companies to follow Chanel’s lead.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) made the following statement on their website:
There’s nothing trendy about using stolen skins from tormented animals for clothing or accessories.
Recent advancements in textiles have made faux fur and vegan leather nearly indistinguishable from animal pelts and skins, far more sustainable, and infinitely customizable, meaning there’s simply no reason to breed and kill animals for fashion. [sic]
It’s clear that the time is now for all companies, like Louis Vuitton, to follow Chanel’s lead and move to innovative materials that spare countless animals a miserable life and a violent, painful death.
Well done Chanel for leaving any Cruella de Vil vibes firmly in the past. Hopefully this will set a new precedent for other brands – luxury or high street!
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.