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Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters
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Free People gives up angora after PETA protest October 21, 2015 Washington Post The agony of angora is too much for Free People. After resisting entreaties from an animal rights groups to stop selling apparel made from the ripped-from-the-skin fur of rabbits, the Urban Outfitters-owned brand said on Tuesday that it will be angora-free by 2016, The Post has learned. The hipster retailer’s about face, quietly disclosed in a policy statement posted on its Web site on Tuesday, promises it will “cease buying and producing products containing angora fur” and will comply with “a longstanding effort to make the entire URBN portfolio angora-free.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, launched a campaign against Free People last week, encouraging its 3 million members to demand action from the company. Some 67,000 members sent emails to Free People, PETA said. Initially, Free People responded to the emails by claiming that the angora it purchases meets its cruelty-free standards. But a week later, Free People caved. The company did not immediately respond Wednesday morning to emails and calls for comment. Last year in China, PETA conducted an undercover investigation into how angora fur is sourced — following an initial probe in 2013 in that country, where 90 percent of angora is produced. PETA claims it found that rabbits scream in pain when their fur is ripped from their bodies. It produced videos on its Web site about the practice. The investigations resulted in 110 retailers, including H&M, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Forever 21, pledging to stop selling angora products, PETA claims. Comment: It’s public pressure and boycotts that force companies to reassess business practices. If there’s enough negative publicity and the bottom line is impacted, these otherwise immoral and inhumane corporations will respond accordingly. |