Two Fur Issues, Two Automatic Messages, Two Minutes … Thank you.

Started by: Annie Hartnett

Each year, furrier Saga conducts courses and contests at the Parsons School of Fashion. Fashion students are given free samples of fur and encouraged to use fur in their future lines.

Parsons has a lengthy sustainability manifesto on their website, encouraging students to be environmentally conscious and to “buy better.”

It isn’t consistent with Parson’s sustainability message to allow Saga to hand out free fur to students. If Parsons is truly serious about the ethics of their young designers, they won’t allow Saga to give out fur to their students.

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I recently read on Change.org that Parson New School for Design is still planning to conduct Saga’s annual fur contest.

Parson’s has an admirable sustainability manifesto on its website, but holding a contest sponsored by furriers isn’t consistent with this message. How can you ask students to “buy better,” and then hold a contest that promotes the torture and slaughter of thousands of animals?

I urge you to immediately discontinue the annual fur contest. I am aware that Parsons recently held a workshop conducted by The Humane Society of the United States. While this is a move in the right direction, Parsons should take a true stand against fur. The school helps shape the careers of young designers, and Parsons has a responsibility not to allow furriers to lure young students into supporting the cruel fur industry.

Thank you.

Started by: Action for our Planet .com

A number of colleges (Central Saint Martins College, London College of Fashion, Royal College of Art & Wimbeldon College of Art) are currently using a significant amount of fur in their fashion and design departments. The amount utilised by the colleges is so significant that they even have their own fur suppliers. Not only is it offensive to use fur, as many students are against animal cruelty, it also sets a bad example by showing students it is acceptable and perfectly normal to use fur from skinned alive animals. When these students grow up, they may develop their own fashion collections and incorporate fur because they have learnt it is an acceptable fashion material. Many designers who have previously studied at these colleges, have gone on to become successful fashion designers who often use fur in their collections. The British Fur Trade even bribes students with free fur pelts to use in their end of year fashion show so as to promote the fur trade. Please sign this petition asking colleges to ditch fur and go cruelty free.

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I was horrified to learn that the design departments at your college uses a significant amount of fur. The amount utilised is so significant that the college even has it’s own fur supplier. Animals are kept in appalling conditions on fur farms where they are subject to isolation, psychological and physical trauma and even premature death. Once these animals are deemed ready for slaughter, they are skinned alive, anally electrocuted, bludgeoned to death, gassed, poisoned or suffocated. Once an animal has been skinned alive, it’s body is thrown into a pile where it faces an agonizing and slow death.

I invite you to watch this video depicting Norwegian fur farms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2i6pocxJO8

I also ask that you watch this video of animals being killed for their fur: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXygC9li_oE

Regardless of what fur farmers may claim, no fur is ethically sourced and all animals suffer immensely. Expecting your students to use fur is not only offensive to those that care about animals,  it also sends a message to students showing them it is perfectly normal and acceptable to skin animals alive. Your college has been named and shamed on an anti-fur website because of it’s lack of compassion. I urge you to stop using fur immediately and utilise faux fur alternatives or other materials so as to stop directly funding the cruel fur trade.

Thank you for your time.

Please don’t forget to sign the following two petitions:

• 1. Ask Parsons: Stop Promoting Fur to Fashion Students
• 2. Fashion Colleges: Stop Using Fur

RESOURCES

• Action for Our Planet, Fur Cruelty
• Olsenhaus Shoes Helps New Vegan Designers Get On Their Feet

Fur-Free Retailers PDF

Dressing Cruelty Free: Vegan Companies

Parson’s Sustainability Manifesto

Cruelty-Free Clothing ~ Shops

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Read More … FUR / SKIN

there is no rocket science needed here
the bottom line is very clear
the fur industry is long outdated
and to the garbage can
it should be relegated!!!!

Karen Lyons Kalmenson