If you know of a story or charity we should feature please get in touch - Lifescape is here to make a difference
FUR THEIR SAKE, MAKE IT FAKE!
With the increase of fur on the catwalk this London Fashion Week, many celebrities are denouncing the use of fur. Additional supporters of ADI include: Stella McCartney, Mary McCartney, Brian Blessed, Meg Mathews, Ricky Gervais, Samantha Janus, and Belinda Carlisle.
Whilst fur farming is banned in the UK, the rising trend in fur has fuelled UK demand with over 40% of fur being sourced from Finland. Animal Defenders International (ADI) has launched a new undercover report titled ‘Bloody Harvest’ (with video and photographic evidence) revealing the truth about the horrific conditions and cruelty at these certified farms. The report and video are being launched simultaneously in Helsinki and London by ADI and Finnish animal protection group Oikeutta Elaimille.
The video shows that claims by the Finnish Fur Breeders Association that “All fur animals in Finland are bred in a manner honouring their well-being,” simply do not reflect the reality and the suffering of these animals.
The London launch by ADI coincides with the start of London Fashion Week tomorrow (Friday 19th February) and aims to bring designers face to face with the reality of fur, in particular fox fur, the market for which is dominated by Finnish producers.
“I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable. I hope this ADI report helps the fashion industry realise that these poor animals are kept in such terrible and inhumane conditions. Is it really worth this cruelty just for fashion’s sake? I don’t think so.” ~Twiggy
A summary of report findings includes: animals with open and infected wounds; obvious signs of untreated infection; eyes infected or missing; tails bitten off; deformed and damaged legs; overgrowing gum disease resulting in difficulty eating and drinking; babies with legs stuck through the mesh floor of the cage; dilapidated and dangerous caging and facilities; widespread animal suffering and neglect; empty, unclean and broken water bowls.
According to ADI Chief Executive, Jan Creamer, “It’s really disappointing to see fur making a comeback on the fashion catwalks. Some in the fashion industry have chosen to close their eyes and hearts to the truth about fur production. This investigation is a wake-up call – it is no longer acceptable to ignore the suffering, and designers must take responsibility for the way that their fur is produced.
Over seven months, 30 fur farms, seven hours of footage and one and a half thousand photographs, Animal Defenders International investigated a random sample of Finnish fur farms. This investigation exposes the terrible suffering that is part and parcel of the fur industry.
Foxes and mink are wild animals – but in fur farms, they cannot cope with the unnatural environment they find themselves in. Worse still, the conditions in these farms are awful: their short, miserable lives are spent in squalid surroundings full of fear and distress, suffering injuries, infection and deformities. All for an unnecessary product for which a variety of alternatives are available.
It is time for designers who use fur, and the people who wear it, to take responsibility for the way that the product they are wearing has been produced.
FUR FACTS
• Pelts of up to 15-20 foxes or 60-80 mink are required to make ONE fur coat.
• Wild foxes live up to 15 years and mink live up to 10 years,
• Lifespan of mink and fox bred for fur is ONLY 8 MONTHS
• Babies born without the prerequisite pelt quality ARE KILLED IMMEDIATELY
• An increase in fur for fashions sake means now over 400 designers use fur in their collections
• LFW designers using fur on the catwalk include: Mathew Williamson, Caroline Charles, Todd Lynn and Charlie Le Mindu
To see what you can do, visit the ADI campaign website: http://furstop.com/what-you-can-do/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sources:
EVOLVE! Campaigns
http://www.prlog.org
http://www.ad-international.org
http://furstop.com
