The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced a ban on the use of exotic skins at London Fashion Week, marking a significant step in its sustainability initiatives. This decision makes London the first major fashion capital to implement such a ban, following its earlier prohibition of fur in 2018. The ban was revealed on Friday, November 29, with statements from BFC directors including Caroline Rush and David Leigh Pemberton.
No More Fur or Skins
“We will no longer showcase brands using real fur or exotic skins in their collections, and we ask designers to respect these conditions if they wish to participate in London Fashion Week,” David Leigh Pemberton, one of the directors of the British Fashion Council, stated, according to The Guardian.
The move has been praised by animal rights organizations. PETA hailed the British Fashion Council’s ban on wild-animal skins at London Fashion Week as a “huge step forward”. Yvonne Taylor, PETA’s vice president of corporate projects, said, “We salute the compassionate British designers who helped usher in this new policy by recognizing that crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and other animals should never be bludgeoned, impaled, or beheaded for their skin,” according to the New York Post.
Pressure From Animal Rights Groups
The ban comes amid increasing pressure from animal rights activists, who have long criticized the use of materials derived from exotic animals such as crocodiles and snakes. Activists’ actions have intensified recently, disrupting several major fashion shows. During the last Paris Fashion Week, PETA activists briefly disrupted the Hermès show, holding signs against the use of exotic leathers.
The British Fashion Council is also considering its approach regarding the use of feathers. A BFC spokesperson said, “We are committed to providing our network with tools and resources to help them on this journey,” and is reviewing its “approach regarding the use of feathers,” according to The Guardian.
This initiative aligns with a trend already adopted by many British fashion houses, reflecting a growing commitment to animal welfare in the industry. Burberry, for example, banned fur in 2018 and exotic skins in 2022.
Despite these developments, some major fashion weeks have yet to follow suit. Milan, Paris, and New York fashion weeks have not implemented similar bans on exotic skins or fur. Fur is still seen at shows in Milan and Paris.
The ban on exotic skins is part of a wider package of standards introduced under the BFC’s Institute of Positive Fashion, which works across social, environmental, and sustainability programs. The BFC’s press statement read, “We know that many of our designers have strong ethics and are working towards more sustainable practices and accurate measurement,” as reported by The Guardian.
Animal welfare organizations have welcomed the BFC’s actions but urge further steps. Dr. Charlotte Regan, wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protection UK, said the announcement sent an “important message throughout the global fashion industry that exploiting animals for their skins is both unethical and unnecessary,” according to The Guardian. She added, “With both fur and now wild animal skins banned from London Fashion Week, our attention turns to the use of wild bird feathers in fashion.”
PETA has called on Paris and Milan to follow London’s example regarding the ban on exotic skins, highlighting the need for broader industry changes. Yvonne Taylor stated, “The future of fashion is animal-free – and the future is now,” as reported by FashionUnited.
The debate over animal products such as leather, feathers, fur, and skins is hotly contested within the fashion industry. While the abandonment of fur is already widespread, with groups like Kering announcing the end of its use in 2021, exotic skins remain a more complex issue. Brands like Chanel banned the use of exotic skins as early as 2018, followed by Marc Jacobs in 2024, who stated his brand “does not work in, use or sell fur, nor will we in the future,” according to the New York Post.
Designers will now be required to agree to the new policy banning exotic animal skins when applying to be included on the official London Fashion Week calendar. The BFC is actively engaging with designers to discuss its approach to feathers, reflecting a willingness to expand ethical practices within fashion.
David Lee Pemberton indicated that the British Fashion Council’s review of its approach to feathers is part of the broader context of the fashion industry’s response to environmental and social concerns, according to El Economista. The BFC spokesperson added, “Thank you to those individuals and organizations whose collective constructive challenge have helped evolve our approach to these issues,” as reported by the New York Post.
Despite the progress in London, some major luxury groups have not yet implemented similar bans. LVMH, the parent company of Loewe, Givenchy, and Celine, has not barred the use of exotic skins or furs, continuing to face criticism from activists.
The Institute of Positive Fashion aims to reflect the changing feelings of the fashion industry in London while spearheading social, environmental, and sustainability programs. The BFC continues to lead work on circularity, low carbon transition, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the fashion sector.
Emma Håkansson, founding director of Collective Fashion Justice, said, “We celebrate this important progress,” according to The Guardian. Dr. Charlotte Regan added, “We look forward to working with the British Fashion Council on the last step of their journey to being a completely wildlife-free event.”
