Michael Kors joins the likes of Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Stella McCartney in becoming the latest fashion house to pledge to go 100% fur-free. According to the Business of Fashion, the brand will remove all fur from its collections as of next year, with recently acquired Jimmy Choo also following suit.
‘Due to technological advances in fabrications, we now have the ability to create a luxe aesthetic using non-animal fur. We will showcase these new techniques in our upcoming runway show in February,’ Michael Kors said in a statement.
Gucci announced its plans to go fur-free in October, joining the Fur Free Alliance. In a statement, CEO Marco Bizzarri said: ‘Being socially responsible is one of Gucci’s core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals. With the help of HSUS and LAV, Gucci is excited to take this next step and hopes it will help inspire innovation and raise awareness, changing the luxury fashion industry for the better.’
It came after anti-fur protesters were particularly active at London Fashion Week in September, targeting the Burberry and Gareth Pugh shows.
Although the rising number of designers pledging to remove fur is encouraging, there’s still far more to be done. The Fur Information Council of America recently told the Business of Fashion that, ‘nearly 70 percent of major designers included fur in their autumn/winter 2017 collections,’ which is a surprisingly high figure.
Michael Kors used fur in its most recent autumn/winter 2017 collection, with model Ashley Graham wearing a grey fur coat for the brand.