As London Fashion Week unfolds, Pei Su, the founder of ACTAsia, expresses gratitude for the absence of real fur on the catwalks. Despite firsthand exposure to the cruelty of fur farming, Su notes a troubling trend where celebrities and influencers are promoting the resurgence of fur.
London Fashion Week’s decision to go fur-free in 2023 was a significant milestone, but Su is disheartened by the recent endorsement of real fur by some younger influencers, undermining the progress toward compassionate fashion.
With insights from ACTAsia’s efforts, Su highlights the brutal realities of the fur industry, emphasizing the mass breeding and slaughter of animals like foxes, mink, and raccoon dogs. The shift towards promoting fur by TikTok personalities and celebrities like Kendall Jenner raises ethical concerns about supporting such inhumane practices.
In addition to animal cruelty, the fur industry’s environmental impact, including high carbon emissions and toxic production processes, raises serious sustainability questions. Furthermore, the dense animal populations on fur farms pose health risks, potentially serving as breeding grounds for pandemics.
Despite arguments on social media advocating for vintage fur as a form of recycling, Su argues that normalizing fur perpetuates demand and disregards the industry’s ethical implications.
While the UK has banned fur farming, loopholes allowing fur imports and sales persist, with major retailers like Harrods and Louis Vuitton continuing to sell fur. Su calls for public support in banning fur imports and sales, highlighting a parliamentary bill led by MP Ruth Jones set for a crucial reading in February.
ACTAsia’s focus on China, a key player in the global fur trade, aims to raise awareness and prompt informed decisions among consumers and professionals. Progress includes a decrease in fur farms in China, although millions of pelts are still produced annually.
Positive strides such as the Fur Free Retailers scheme, with over 1600 signatories globally and 112 in China, demonstrate growing opposition to fur. While London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week have taken steps to ban fur, other major events like Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks continue to showcase fur, facing increasing backlash from sponsors and critics.
Despite advancements in the fashion industry, Su urges individuals to reconsider their choices to prevent a regression in animal rights progress. ACTAsia’s mission, backed by the UN, focuses on fostering compassion for animals, people, and the environment, particularly in combatting the cruelties of the fur trade.