Fashion giant Burberry is under growing pressure to ditch cashmere and feathers from its future collections…
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Burberry is being urged to ban cashmere and feathers from all of its future collections.
The fashion giant recently had its annual meeting, where stakeholders and representatives are invited to discuss the company’s performance and strategy.
Vegan charity PETA, who bought shares in Burberry, used the meeting to bring attention to its recent investigation into cashmere farms.
Cashmere investigation
The organisation found workers at a Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA)-certified cashmere farm pinning down goats by their legs and horns. Employees were also seen pulling out the goats’ hair with sharp metal combs.
In the slaughterhouses, workers were filmed bludgeoning goats in the head with a hammer before slitting their throats.
“Burberry claims that it doesn’t knowingly use materials that ‘may inflict any harm to animal welfare’. However, terrified goats, geese, and ducks are suffering horribly for its designs,” says PETA’s Yvonne Taylor.
“Now that Burberry is aware of exactly what happens in its supply chain… PETA is calling on the company to ban cashmere and feathers and switch to animal-friendly vegan materials instead.”
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PETA's investigation found workers at a cashmere farm pinning down goats by their legs and horns and pulling out the goats’ hair with sharp metal combs. Photo © elletri via Adobe Stock
Burberry bans exotic skins
While the British brand has yet to implement a ban on cashmere, Burberry has made several improvements over the years.
For example, in 2018 it announced it would no longer be using real animal fur or angora in any of its collections.
Moreover, Burberry confirmed last year it was banning exotic skins, following a slew of high-end designers turning away from the cruel material.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to make a positive difference to people, planet, and communities… And the strong foundations we’ve set underpin our new ambition to be climate positive by 2040,” Burberry’s Julie Brown said.
“As a modern luxury brand, I’m pleased to confirm today that we have banned the use of exotics in future collections. [This] builds on the commitments we made a number of years ago to go fur-free.”
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Featured image © bbtomas via Adobe Stock
