Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga are now fur-free brands.
The luxury designers are the latest Kering-owned brands to ditch fur, joining the likes of Gucci and Bottega Veneta.
The French luxury group made the announcement in its 2020 Universal Registration document. “Most of the Group’s Houses do not use fur,” the company wrote. “Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and MCQ also no longer use fur in their collections.”
According to a press release sent to LIVEKINDLY, Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States worked with Kering on adopting a fur-free policy for more than ten years.
“Every time a big fashion name like Alexander McQueen or Balenciaga goes fur-free, it sends a clear message that fur has no place in a modern society,” the animal rights groups’ CEO, Kitty Block, said.
“This is a statement that consumers care more about sustainable solutions than the fur trim on a bag or a coat. We look forward to continuing our work with Kering, and the rest of the industry, to ensure that humane and innovative materials are the future of fashion,” Block continued.
Fur-Free Brands
As awareness around the animal welfare and environmental impact of fur farming grows, public opinion seems to be shifting away from fur. The fashion and textiles industries are responding to the change in demand.
Brands like Armani, Versace, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Chanel, DKNY, and Burberry have already ditched fur.
According to the release, Kering-owned Bottega Veneta has been fur-free for nearly two decades. And Gucci revealed it would ban fur back in 2017. The brand also joined the Fur Free Alliance, an international coalition of more than 40 animal protection organizations working to end the use of fur for fashion.
In an interview with Business of Fashion, Gucci’s CEO, Marco Bizzari, said he thought using animal-derived fur was an outdated practice. “Do you think using furs today is still modern? I don’t think it’s still modern,” he said. “And that’s the reason why we decided not to do that. It’s a little bit out-dated.” In 2018, Gucci also pledged to ban the use of angora wool—which is derived from rabbits—in its designs.
In February 2021, German sportswear giant Adidas became the 1500th company to join the Fur Free Alliance’s Fur Free Retailer program. Brands like Zara, North Face, Lacoste, the Prada Group, and Marks & Spencers are also members.
There are only two Kering brands that haven’t yet announced fur-free policies: Brioni and Saint Laurent.
