The Global Conservation Group (GCG), a Wisconsin-based animal advocacy and rescue organization, has launched a Change.org petition and social media campaign to encourage Ellen DeGeneres, a vegan, to cut leather from the footwear line of her lifestyle brand, ED. Last week DeGeneres and the Camuto Group announced their partnership to debut leather, suede, denim, linen and canvas footwear for Spring ’16.
In an open letter published on Change.org, GCG Co-founder and President Jordan Turner writes: “What we have to remember is that leather is simply fur without hair; it’s certainly just as cruel and inhumane.”
Turner goes on to write: “Please consider pulling leather from your shoe line. Animal leather can easily be replaced with cruelty-free materials that imitate leather, including faux leather, pleather, synthetic leather, PU, man-made leather, waxed cotton, and imitation leather.”
As of publication time, GCG’s petition received 4.588 supporters. Turner told Vamp GCG hopes to receive 20,000 signature by next week. Vamp reached out to the Camuto Group and ED for a comment.