Dolce & Gabbana Becomes the Second Luxury Fashion House to Ban Fur This Year

Another luxury fashion powerhouse is going fur-free. Dolce & Gabbana has announced that it is banning fur from all future collections starting this year.

Dolce & Gabbana has used the likes of fox, mink, and rabbit fur in its designs. But in recent years, it has embraced faux furs made with synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic. The Italian fashion house revealed today that it will continue to work with the fur artisans in its supply chain to incorporate sustainable faux fur made from recycled materials into its designs. However, it will continue to use other animal-derived materials, such as cashmere and wool.

“The entire fashion system has a significant social responsibility role that must be promoted and encouraged: we will integrate innovative materials into our collections and develop environmentally friendly production processes, while at the same time preserving artisans’ jobs and know-how otherwise in danger of fading,” says Fedele Usai, communications and marketing officer and Dolce & Gabbana. “A more sustainable future can’t contemplate the use of animal fur.”

The fur ban was celebrated by animal rights groups such as Humane Society International, the Fur Free Alliance, and In Defense of Animals.

Dolce & Gabbana goes fur-free

Dolce & Gabbana is the second luxury fashion brand to announce a ban on fur this year.

Its announcement follows on the heels of Moncler’s decision to go fur-free. The luxury outerwear brand, which churns out ski wear featuring down insulation and fur trimming, will no longer use fur (which excludes wool and down) beginning in 2024.

The move follows Italy’s recent announcement of its plans to ban fur farming nationwide. In December 2021, the Italian Senate approved an amendment to a budget law that would permanently ban the farming of fur-bearing animals like raccoon dogs, foxes, chinchillas, and mink.

The ban must still be approved by Italy’s parliament, but when passed, it would see the closure of the country’s remaining fur farms by June 30, 2022. Italy would join a growing list of countries in passing fur bans, including France, Hungary, and the Netherlands. 

Last year, Kering Group—the parent company of major brands like Saint Laurent and Brioni—made headlines for its decision to ditch fur. 

Many of the conglomerate’s brands were already fur-free, including Gucci, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen. Gucci banned fur in 2017, while the latter two went fur-free in early 2021. 

Brands like Prada, Burberry, Coach, Oscar de la Renta, and Chanel have also committed to not using fur.

Editors note: This article was updated on February 2, 2022. A previous version of the article stated that Dolce & Gabbana’s fur ban also applies to angora wool, but this has not been confirmed by the brand.