The Fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, that kills millions of innocent animals annually.
Each year cold-hearted designers such as Michael Kors and Donna Karan use fur from bludgeoned, gassed and electrocuted animals to make fur coats and collars.
Because of video sent to Donna Karan (AKA "The Bunny Butcher") by PETA, it is assumed that she is aware of the cruelty that takes place to produce fur trimmed coats, hats and bags for her work. Despite Karan's agreement to discontinue using animal fur, her latest collection contradicts her agreement by including rabbit fur.
Swiss Animal Protection/ East International, which is based in Switzerland, sent undercover investigators to China. China is an economic giant and much sought-after trade partner and political world power but China is a country that has no laws concerning animal welfare. Many designers such as Karan have moved their operations to China. Fur farmers in China use the cheapest killing methods, including head bashing, neck breaking, suffocation and anal or vaginal electrocution. The animals are electrocuted at 240 bolts of electricity, which is sent through their bodies, frying them inside and out. The crude killing methods are not always effective and sometimes animals wake up while they are being skinned.
The investigators found horrors beyond their worst imaginings and concluded, “Conditions on Chinese fur farms make a mockery of elementary animal welfare standards. In their lives and their unspeakable deaths, these animals have been denied even the basic simplest acts of kindness”.
85 percent of fur comes from the fur farms in which animals spend their entire lives confined to cramped and filthy wire cages where they only have enough room to take a few steps in either direction.
According to Danielle Katz manager of the Fur campaign for PETA, “PETA has received fur-free commitments from Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne, Perry Ellis, Limited Brands, and Express. Forever 21, PETA’s main target just a few years ago not only adopted a fur-free policy but also recently launched a fall promotion featuring fake fur, faux leather, and mock croc.”
There is a long list of celebrities who have declared themselves fur-free, including Penelope Cruz, Natalie Portman, Kristen Stewart, Ke$ha and Eve Mendes. First Lady Michelle Obama also announced that she is fur-free after French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy wrote to PETA to clarify she does not wear fur coats. She wrote to PETA to inform them that she gives away any fur that she receives.
This year PETA teamed up with model, A-List New York’s Austin Armacost, for an "Anti-fur" ad. Armacost agreed to do the campaign because he was upset that progressive people in the international gay fashion pack, such as his ex, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors have little regard for the animals that get skinned alive for their fur.
PETA will also use Armacost's ad in a new anti-fur leaflet during New York, London, Milan, and Paris fashion weeks, as banner ads on gay websites throughout the fall, and as a full spread in the U.K.'s Gay Times.
WBAI obtained exclusive behind the scenes photos of Austin Armacost stripping down and turning his back on fur. The Ad is raunchy and steamy which will not just get people talking but will also raise awareness of the issue. To learn more about PETA and how you can make a difference, click the READ MORE link below.
Watch video
