Melbourne fashion brand Alexandra Australia will ban its use of real fur in future collections and instead use faux fur, following a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Alexandra Australia designer and director Lexi McNeil confirmed the move in an email to Ragtrader, saying her brand is still selling through old stock of real fur.
“We envisage having no real fur available for sale by the end of this winter,” she said.
PETA had suggested that the brand donate its leftover fur stock to charity. PETA also confirmed that Alexandra Australia does not use animal leather, including exotic skins such as crocodile and snake.
“Alexandra Australia has finally joined a plethora of designers and brands who have left cruel and environmentally destructive fur in the past,” PETA corporate liaison Dion Campbell said. “We’ve shared with them a lot of information, and thanks to our supporters who reached out to them, too, we now look forward to collections that don’t subject animals to miserable lives on filthy fur farms and a brutal death.”
PETA’s campaign against Alexandra Australia using real fur began back in late 2021, as then reported by Ragtrader.
A petition was then launched by the animal welfare organisation and had garnered 7,000 signatures in a week. It came after high-profile celebrity Billie Eillish changed Oscar de la Renta’s fur policy by agreeing to wear the brand at the Met Gala if it stopped using fur - which the high-end designer label agreed to.
Earlier in 2021, British textile analysis firm Microtex performed forensic testing which found that Alexandra Australia was selling coloured fur cuffs made from the fur of raccoon dogs, according to The Age.
Raccoon dog is an unrelated species which is often mistreated in the international fur trade.
Another item, a beige fur ring, tested positive for fox fur and wasn’t labelled at all, as is required by law.
Alongside Alexandra Australia are a host of other brands who have committed to banning real fur or angora from its production, according to PETA. This includes Australian brands such as Ellery, Aje., Bassike, Maggie Marilyn, The Iconic, We Are Kindred, Yousef Akbar, and Acler.
Melbourne Fashion Week has also joined the commitment, alongside Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Other international brands who have banned real fur or angora include Gucci, Versace, Prada, Valentino, Armani, Chanel, Burberry, Michael Kors, Kering (Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, YSL, Bottega Veneta), Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Canada Goose, and Kong’s (pet toys).