Victoria Beckham is casting off exotic skins from her eponymous label, beginning this fall.
Issuing a statement Monday, the luxury purveyor explained that the decision reflects not only “the wishes of the brand” but those of its customers, too.
“As a business, we have been looking to action the use of more ethically sourced products that have less environmental impact for some time,” a company spokesperson told WWD. “We are happy to confirm that we will cease using exotic skins in all future collections as of our main autumn/winter 2019 ready-to-wear presentation.”
Victoria Beckham has steered clear of fur since its inception in September 2008.
Elisa Allen, director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) U.K., welcomed the decision, noting that “behind every crocodile, alligator, snake, or lizard handbag or pair of shoes is a violent death.”
“Victoria Beckham’s decision to ban exotic skins will spare countless remarkable animals immense suffering,” Allen said in a statement. “PETA calls on other luxury brands to follow her kind example.”
Victoria Beckham’s announcement comes two months after Chanel revealed it was dropping crocodile, lizard, snake and stingray leather from future collections because of sourcing complications.
“We are continually reviewing our supply chains to ensure they meet our expectations of integrity and traceability,” the luxury house said in February. “In this context, it is our experience that it is becoming increasingly difficult to source exotic skins which match our ethical standards.”
Last October, Diane von Furstenberg banned exotic skins, mohair, angora and fur, citing a desire to shift to a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry filled with “innovative and sophisticated” alternatives.
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“It’s time for us to make this change and accept responsibility to ensure that we don’t promote killing animals for the sake of fashion,” Sandra Campos, chief executive officer of DVF, said then.
Burberry, Coach, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Philip Lim, Ralph Lauren, Versace and luxury e-tailer Farfetch have all boycotted fur within the past few years, though most have stopped short of rejecting exotic skins entirely.
A fur ban in Los Angeles is primed to kick into action in 2021 after the City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday on a 13-1 vote. Though a second procedural vote will still be required since the first was not unanimous—meaning, the boycott can still be overruled—the City of Angels is now the largest U.S. city to criminalize the sale and manufacturing of all products that include fur within city limits.