Hollywood Fur Ban Upheld

The fur ban in West Hollywood has been upheld by a federal court.The area's city council enforced the ban, which prevents local retailers from selling fur apparel, in 2011, but it was recently challenged as unconstitutional by accessories boutique Mayfair House.

"It's not over yet," Elizabeth Solomon, a spokeswoman for Mayfair House, told WWD. "We are surrounded by home design stores that sell fur chairs and fur rugs. That is where the issue is. Why is this just directed to apparel? Just be fair and apply it across the board."

Fur Ban

Retailers found to be selling fur are subject to a fine of $200 for the first offence, $400 for the second offence, and $800 for a third offence within a year - as well as a $50 administrative fee for each offence.

"West Hollywood is one of the nation's most animal-friendly cities - a notion that's just incompatible with the inhumane treatment of fur-bearing animals," Ralph Henry, deputy director for The Humane Society of the United States Animal Protection Litigation Group, said in response. "We applaud the court's decision to uphold the city's groundbreaking ordinance. The ruling makes clear that the constitution does not prevent West Hollywood or any other city from using its lawmaking powers to protect animals by prohibiting the sale of cruelly produced products."

West Hollywood is home to many designer boutiques that carry fur products - including Balenciaga, Rag & Bone, Alberta Ferretti, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Christian Louboutin - as well as smaller independent retailers, which are reportedly bearing the financial brunt of the ban.