The topic of banning fur in New York City is currently under discussion by the City Council. Council Speaker Corey Johnson has proposed a law that would prohibit the sale of new fur apparel within city limits. However, businesses would still be allowed to sell vintage, secondhand, repurposed, or recycled fur items without facing fines.
New York City is home to a large number of fur businesses, with a significant concentration in Johnson’s district on Manhattan’s West Side. The introduction of this legislation has led to a range of reactions from constituents and fur lobbyists. For instance, Nancy Daigneault from Fur NYC has voiced concerns about the potential impact of the ban, emphasizing the need for the city to address more urgent issues like affordability and infrastructure.
Several other cities, including San Francisco, Berkeley, and West Hollywood, have already implemented bans on fur sales. At a state level, New York is also considering enacting its own fur ban in response to concerns about animal cruelty and environmental impact. Major retailers like Farfetch and high-end designers such as Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Phillip Lim, and Ralph Lauren have started phasing out real fur from their collections. Victoria Beckham made news by deciding to no longer use exotic skins in her designs.
Animal rights groups, such as Friends of Animals, have pointed out the growing popularity of faux fur as a cruelty-free alternative. The faux fur market was valued at $250 million in 2010 and is predicted to grow by 30 percent annually. This shift towards ethical alternatives reflects changing consumer attitudes and a heightened awareness of the ethical implications of using real fur in fashion.
For more information on the fur bans in other cities, check out The New York Times. Learn more about the cruelty-free fashion movement and alternatives to fur at PETA.
