PETA, the well-known animal rights organization, is intensifying its efforts to combat the luxury industry’s use of animal products. specifically targeting the major luxury conglomerates LVMH and Kering. By conducting two investigations at Indonesian slaughterhouses, PETA Asia revealed shocking practices, supposedly linked to Gucci, owned by Kering. These practices included the decapitation of lizards while they were still alive and the stretching of pythons’ skin by filling them with water before stunning and decapitating them. PETA went on to assert that lizard heads remain conscious and capable of feeling pain even after being severed.
Mimi Bekhechi, vice president for international programs at PETA, stressed the importance of luxury brands acknowledging animal suffering rather than turning a blind eye. Bekhechi called upon these brands to follow the lead of numerous couture houses that have already banned the use of exotic skins in their products. PETA argues that these brands’ actions contradict Kering’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and ethical treatment within their supply chains.
This is not the first time that LVMH and Kering have faced accusations from PETA. In 2016, LVMH was investigated for its treatment of crocodiles at a Vietnamese supplier of Louis Vuitton. Later in the same year, PETA shed light on the conditions of slaughterhouses at a South African ostrich skin supplier that worked with Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Hermès.
PETA has a history of successful campaigns. Notably, the organization convinced the outdoor brand Canada Goose to stop using fur in its collections. However, PETA continues to target brands that incorporate down in their products, including Canada Goose. Their efforts include creative demonstrations, such as three women dressed as plucked birds during Paris Fashion Week and protesters dressed as bloodied humanoid sheep to raise awareness about the use of wool.
Aside from their opposition to fur and down, PETA recently launched a satirical website called “Urban Outraged,” which aimed to raise ethical concerns about using animal skins in fashion by featuring jackets and bags made from “human skin.”
PETA’s tireless campaigning serves as a reminder that the luxury industry must address the ethical issues surrounding exotic skins and animal products used in their collections. As consumer awareness and demand for sustainable and cruelty-free fashion continue to grow, these fashion giants will face increasing pressure to find alternative materials and production methods that align with evolving societal values.
Here are two useful links providing more information on this topic:
1. https://www.peta.org.uk/features/luxury-brands-investigated-crocodile-mistreatment/
2. https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/animal-skins-exotic-skins/
