Fur Free at NYFW... Is this Fur Real?

If you’ve never been to a fashion show, let alone New York Fashion Week, then let me to break it down for you. Expect an army of twig-thin models, styled by flamboyant men with more lip injections than the front row combined. Expect to be bowled over by fur-wearing old women accessorised by their Louis-Vuitton wearing French poodles. Expect the hype of seeing this season’s collections before all of your friends, and the utter bewilderment as to the appropriate occasion to wear a rabbit fur-coat. Expect to be sickened when you realise that as much as you love, love, LOVE clothing, killing an animal for its fur will never be fashionable.

At the forefront of New York Fashion Week is Giorgio Armani, who recently announced his brand would be making a firm commitment to abolish the use of animal fur. “Technological progress made over the years allows us to have valid alternatives...  that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary”.

Photograph of Giorgio Armani 

Armani’s partnership with the Fur Free Alliance (a body comprised of over 40 animal welfare organisations), may be a critical step in the fight to abolish animal fur completely from New York Fashion Week. Armani joins fashion house bros; Hugo (Boss), Ralph (Lauren) and Tommy (Hilfiger) in switching to a synthetic alternative.

Changing the fashion industry doesn’t take someone in the front row. Armani’s decision to go ‘fur-free’ was the result of years of protesting by animal rights activists. You heard correctly. Someone who wasn’t an Olsen, Beckham or carrying a handbag worth more than the entire GDP of Namibia, has forever changed the fashion industry.  

Assuming of course that you are not in-fact Anna Wintour (if you are, I’m totally dying right now), you still have the power to change the inhumane treatment of animals for fashion. If you’d like to make a difference. If you love animals, planet Earth or um... pizza (who doesn’t?) sign the petition here! 

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