The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
The British luxury brand confirmed it would no longer use exotic leathers in future collections during its FY22 earnings call Wednesday.
Burberry had previously banned the use of real fur in September 2018, but its animal welfare policy suggests it still sources exotic skins like python, water snake and alligator.
The move to drop these materials comes amid mounting pressure from animal rights activists, after decades-long campaigns to ban fur have been largely successful. Luxury players who have already banned exotic skins include Chanel in December 2018 and, more recently, e-tailer Moda Operandi in April this year.
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Could Exotic Skins Go the Same Way as Fur?
While some companies have denounced the use of crocodile, snake and ostrich skins to make high-end leather goods, others are doubling down on the product category.
After the SAC’s Higg Index became a central focus for greenwashing allegations, the trade group commissioned an independent review. Its recommendations include scrapping a stand-alone materials assessment and more work to improve the data.
Soaring luxury goods prices have boosted turnover at companies like LVMH and Kering, helping them to report reductions in their ‘emissions intensity’ — the volume of planet-warming gases released relative to revenue.
This week, New York played host to one of the world’s largest climate confabs, but there was little visible presence from fashion’s biggest companies. If the industry doesn’t pull up a seat at the table, it risks getting left behind.
The Chinese company hopes to alleviate its environmental impact through programmes like EvoluShein, which focuses on producing garments out of recycled polyester and reducing waste from unsold clothes.