If you liked the Chanel 2.55 front-flap handbags in snakeskin, you are not going to find it retailing by the luxury brand anymore.
Chanel announced on Dec 4 that it will no longer use exotic skins in future collections. Skins which will be banned include crocodile, lizard, snake, shark and stingray.
This decision to say no to exotic animal skins came as the design house found it increasingly difficult to find such materials that matched their ethical standards.
So, undoubtedly, animal rights groups are rejoicing. But what does it mean for you and I, the consumer? What types of handbags can we then expect from the luxury brand? Will we be in for a surprise?
The end of production of such exotic leather goods marks the beginning of the possibility of a new-gen of “ultra luxury” products to replace them from its design studios, said Chanel.
Of course, this is also a welcome, big step towards more sustainable fashion for future generations – need we say more?
But this doesn’t mean there won’t be anymore Chanel exotic skin bags in the market – it will take some time for these products to work their way out of existing distribution channels. Such bags are still on sale in the secondhand bags market for around 5,500 euros (S$8,500).
In addition, Chanel is also saying no to fur since Karl Lagerfeld says he doesn’t really have use for them in his designs anyway.
While Chanel is the first luxury fashion house to turn its back on exotic animal pelts, other design houses have taken a more ethical stance by being anti-real fur. Read on all about every other major fashion brand that has banned fur.
Photo: Showbit.com
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Earlier in September this year, Burberry announced that it will no longer use real fur in its upcoming collections and will phase out its existing fur products.
The move came as the newly-minted Chief Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci, wanted to innovate within the long-standing British brand. CEO Marco Gobbetti said in a statement that “modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible. This belief is core to us at Burberry and key to our long-term success. We are committed to applying the same creativity to all parts of Burberry as we do to our products.” Ultimately, the change comes as a focal point for Burberry’s transition into the modern era of sustainable fashion.
Photo: Showbit.com
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“We understood from our employee population and from our consumers that it was important to them that we take a stand on this issue,” Coach’s chief executive, Joshua Schulman, told The Business of Fashion. Today’s socially conscious consumers are more than well-informed on what goes on behind the scenes of manufacturing designer clothing and with the plethora of options out there, the brand’s move to ban fur this October will definitely keep them in the company of fashion heavyweights that have joined the ranks.
Photo: Instagram/ coach
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Earlier this year, fashion giant DKNY and Donna Karan has pledged to go fur-free starting from its fall 2019 collection. The commitment follows its long-standing partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSI).
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Diane Von Furstenberg announced that her namesake brand DVF was banning fur and angora in its clothing collection earlier this October.
Partnering with PETA and the Humane Society of the United States, the brand will join an increasing list of luxury fashion houses who have also banned fur in future creations. As part of a wider initiative to make fashion sustainable, ”Sandra Campos, the company’s CEO added that “it’s time for us to make this change and accept responsibility to ensure that we don’t promote killing animals for the sake of fashion.”
Photo: The Straits Times
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Italian accessories brand Furla is going furless after noting advancements in tech that can help innovate faux fur with comparable quality. When a brand like Furla abolishes the use of real fur in its collections, you know that fashion is ready to transit into faux fur.
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Beginning with its Spring/Summer collection this year, Gucci stopped the use of real fur in its creations. Starting with the megabrand’s label on the use of real fur being ‘outdated’, PETA has even plugged Gucci’s commitment to ban the use of angora wool in its products. When asked about the major influence of this decision, chief executive and president Marco Bizzarri told Business of Fashion that “creativity can jump in many different directions instead of using furs.”
Photo: Instagram/ Gucci
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John Galliano led the eponymous brand into a sustainable fashion future when he called for a fur-free environment within the fashion house. Inspired by his fur-friend (pet dog named Gipsy), his commitment to protecting fur-bearing animals was also in his newly found mantra to be a better man.
Photo: Showbit.com
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The US fashion house followed the footsteps of Gucci to go fur-free in 2018. The decision was made in part due to the changing landscape of fabrication technology. CEO John Idol said: “This decision marks a new chapter as our company continues to evolve its use of innovative materials.”
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Donatella Versace announced earlier this year that Versace will no longer use real animal fur in its designs. And the reason for it? “I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right.” The brand that was recently acquired by Michael Kors also shares the same mission on rallying for animal rights.
Photo: Instagram/ donatella_versace
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