Diane Von Furstenberg To Stop Using Fur

With powerhouses including Gucci, Versace, Michael Kors and, most recently, Burberry no longer using fur in their collections, the pressure is on for other brands to follow suit and put ethics at the forefront of their business policies. The latest company to grow conscious about animal cruelty is Diane Von Furstenberg.

Although fewer than 15 per cent of DVF’s autumn/winter collections since the 2015 season have included fur, angora and skin, the house will cease production and use of fur in all upcoming collections. DVF, under the creative direction of Nathan Jenden, will continue to use ethically sourced shearling, but work closely with the Council of Fashion Designers of America on a sustainability roadmap, and focus on developing innovative textiles as fur substitutes.

“I am so excited that technology has provided us a way to feel as glamorous with faux fur,” Von Furstenberg commented on what had informed her decision to partner with the Humane Society of the United States and PETA to halt the exploitation of animal fur.

“It’s time for us to make this change and accept responsibility to ensure that we don’t promote killing animals for the sake of fashion,” Sandra Campos, DVF chief executive officer, told WWD. “We are committed to supporting the shift to a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry by providing the consumer with innovative and sophisticated alternatives. Beginning with 2019, DVF will not incorporate the use of exotic skins, mohair, angora or fur.”

The news follows London Fashion Week’s first fur-free season in a move that will rightly put pressure on New York, Paris and Milan to re-examine their own stance. As positive change is encouraged and industry best practice is put in place, the next step is for companies with resources to innovate new materials that will one day cancel out the need to use all animal materials, such as leather. Who will be the next designer to follow Stella McCartney on this path? Time will tell.