Livin’ Veg

Fur Big At NYC Fashion Week February 16, 2010

Remember when people (especially the young) felt ashamed to be seen out in public wearing fur? There was a reason to be embarrassed. You were Cruella de Vil. You were considered insensitive and out of touch.

But now fur is back. I see it on women in their twenties in NYC as well as the usual older mid town Broadway crowd. And it’s definitely back at fashion week. Designers are using fur and no fuss is being made about it.

In this article, the fashion director of Bloomingdales had this to say:

“I believe people will buy fur in the fall. It keeps you warm,” said Bloomingdale’s fashion director Stephanie Solomon. “And for those who don’t like the idea of fur, there is great faux fur.”

I think she’s missing the point. It’s not about having options. It’s about right and wrong. Fur is a frivolous expense for the wealthy few who can afford it. There are plenty of warm winter coats that don’t involve anal electrocution or harvesting animals in tiny cages while they go insane from captivity.

Fur is still seen as a luxury. A status symbol. It shows that the person wearing it can afford it. Like a BMW. Or a big diamond engagement ring. It is my belief that the status is what keeps people wearing it. What we need is a great campaign, like the one in the eighties, to shame designers and potential buyers into shunning fur. Last winter a lot of work was done to get people to stop wearing fur trim (because it was most likely made out of a dog from China) but I really feel like we need to stop focusing on one species. It makes it about dogs suffering, not a cause for all the animals suffering. We need to be talking about fur farms and the frivolous nature of fur. Shame needs to be brought back into the equation.

Lacoste Against Fur September 2, 2009

Some companies get it right from the beginning. Although for a company that has been around for 76 years, it’s especially amazing that they have never once used fur. I believe most people know that Lacoste’s logo is a crocodile. HSUS did an interview on Lacoste’s commitment to animal issues. Here is what CEO Christophe Chenut has to say about using materials that may look like their logo:

Several of our products have been inspired by crocodile skin such as polo shirts, bed linen, and towels. We believe that as an innovative brand we must not limit ourselves and try to recreate the crocodile skin in new materials without endangering any animals.

They go even further. Lacoste is also the first company to join the “Save Your Logo” initiative.

Here is what they have to say:

Lacoste is the international brand the most clearly associated with an animal. The brand’s commitment to the preservation of crocodiles seems natural, as this animal is part of Lacoste’s history and identity. As the first company to embroider a logo on apparel, it was only natural for Lacoste to be the first company to support the “Save your Logo” operation.

For more than 75 years a crocodile has been the Lacoste logo. Now the brand will actively support projects selected by the GEF to safeguard or protect the endangered crocodile, alligator, caiman, or gavial species, whose loss would jeopardize the biological balance of their natural habitats.

This is the first I’ve heard of the Save Your Logo campaign, but what a great idea! So many companies use animals for their image. How great would it be if they all put money towards their animals.

When I learn something like this about a company, I’m always more prone to support them. But mostly, it makes me feel like happy that there are major companies out there that care about issues as much as they care about profits.

Jamie Bamber Gets Naked For PETA February 26, 2009

So, I know I said I don’t really like PETA’s nudity tactics. Generally that is true. I do however think that the “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” campaigns are pretty clever and successful.

This is especially true when they have actors I adore like Jamie Bramber. “Who is Jamie Bamber?” asks all you non sci fi people. He is Lee Adama from Battlestar Gallactica (a really fantastic show - just saying)

Jamie is showing some skin to protest the use of bear fur. Canadian black bears are slaughtered and used for their fur on the Queen’s Guards Ceremonial Hats.

Bamber has this to say:

“I initially decided to do the PETA ad because a great friend of mine in L.A., Lucy Davis, had just done a similar ad, and I love Lucy and it was a cause I didn’t know about – I’ll be honest. So as soon as Lucy opened my eyes, I was thrilled to join her and do my bit.”

“The obvious alternative is to make caps out of faux fur. You know, use synthetic materials to avoid killing a beautiful animal. They’re not to keep warm. It’s not particularly freezing outside Buckingham Palace. You could wear something else. And you could certainly wear faux fur.”

Thank you to Jamie for making a difference for animals. Generally I prefer when people protest with their clothes on, but celebs take them off so often for advertising and roles anyway, it doesn’t seem so bad.

Less Baby Seals to Die in the Seal Hunt This Year? February 11, 2009

Is this economy good for animals? Well, not for those raised for fast food. (McDonalds profits are up while everyone else is going down down down) But luxury items are not selling. And what is the most frivolous dead animal related luxury item you can think of? Fur!

In an article on Canada.com they talk about the lack of a market for seal pelts:

Robert Courtney, of Dingwall, N.S., should be hunting in Nova Scotia’s small Hay Island hunt right now.

Instead, his crew, the only hunters permitted to go to the protected wildlife area for the 2,000-animal hunt, haven’t taken any seals. Their boat is tied up in Main a Dieu, N.S., becalmed by lack of markets for seal pelts.

It’s not a good time to be a seal slaughterer - and look how bad I feel for the declining market. This is my face —> 

Here is another blissful quote:

“It’s not a good time to be selling fur and there is a lot of pelts in inventory from the harp seal hunt last year,” he said.

Without a demand, there will be no monetary incentive for seal clubbers to hunt baby seals. There are three weeks left of the hunt and it’s good news for seals that some hunters aren’t even hunting at the moment. It’s not worth their time.

Obviously I don’t want this economy to stay so bad - but this is the best side effect I’ve heard of. Less fur. Less slaughter. Less of a market for cruelty.

Jason Wu Changes His Mind On Big Fur Line February 4, 2009

Last week I posted that Jason Wu (up and coming designer who created Michelle Obama’s dress) was going to make his fall line “luxurious” with lots of fur. Obviously, I wasn’t a big fan of that and neither were lots of other veg blogs.

Now for the good news - his fur line is on the back burner! Wu said:

“As a result of increased interest and demand from our global retailers, we’ve decided to put our fur license on hold and concentrate on our growing ready-to-wear business,” Wu said.

Perhaps he realized that he would get a ton of criticism (which had already started) if he made his big debut line one dripping with dead animal pelts. Not such a great PR move to go from overnight sensation to overnight infamous for using slaughtered animals in a “luxury line.”

So while it would have been nice if Jason Wu came out and said, I won’t use fur because it’s cruel, at least he isn’t using it this fall. And maybe that delay will turn into never using fur. We can hope!

Click here to see a list of retailers who don’t use fur.

The Discerning Brute Dishes on the Truth About Fur February 2, 2009

Thank you to Super Vegan for linking to this fantastic video from The Discerning Brute. Joshua Katcher, vegan/activist/jack of all trades. It involves him walking the streets of SoHo with a camera man, asking women to stop and talk to him about their fashion choices. He tells women he’s interested in their fur, asks what it’s made of, and then with a smile on his face he tells them about the horrors of the fur industry. From anal electrocution to rabbits screaming - he tells it like it is.

I personally don’t say anything when I see a fur coat. I don’t have it in me to be nice and I know that being hostile isn’t going to make anyone change their mind. So I just give dirty looks or shake my head. Sometimes I’ll even talk extra loud so someone hears me. But Mr. Katcher takes it a whole step further and educates while mocking. The last woman is absolutely atrocious, has no remorse or care. But there are women in there who see the contradiction between loving animals and loving fur.

And the super good news…this is just episode #1…which means more are on the way!

Watch below…

Inaugural Dress Designer Jason Wu Loves Fur January 27, 2009

Thank you to ecorazzi for turning me on to this story. I watched a clip of Jason Wu speak about the inaugural gown he designed for Michelle Obama. Listening to him talk he seemed like a really sweet guy. Only 26 and this much success. That impression lasted about a day and a half, until I saw a post about him on ecorazzi.

He’s been thrown into the limelight and guess what he’s going to do with it…

He told Access Hollywood:

“I’m doing a significant fur collection, and the message will be all about luxury.”  ”Fashion is also sort of escapism, and women need beautiful dresses to lose themselves in.”

Luxury? Dead animals are not luxurious. Also, doesn’t he know that starting his career with a big ol’ line of fur is the fastest way to get bad attention? Animal groups are going to be mad and they are never shy about showing their displeasure.

Please Jason Wu, start your career as the nice guy you seem like. Choose compassion. No fur.

Fur at the Inauguration January 21, 2009

I loved the inauguration. I thought the first lady and President Obama looked outstanding - even better because she didn’t wear fur. And even Aretha Franklin, enemy to animals, didn’t break out her fur coats. That’s not to say that others didn’t. Any time the camera went into the crowd I saw lots of fur, whether it was on hats, used as trim, or full length no apologies coats. They were in the crowd and there were lots of them.

What I am excited about is that the people who are trend setters, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush had no fur at all. Thank you ladies for showing compassion.

On a different topic: Was anyone other than me frustrated by how much god was in the inauguration? Non believers got a shout out but at times I thought I missed the inauguration and found myself at church? Separation of chuch and state? Anyone? Anyone?

Fantastic Animal/Environmental Ads January 2, 2009

Web Ecoist posted some fantastic ads like this anti fur ad I featured. They say they are environmental ads, and many of them are, but these fur ones are straight up animal rights related. Many others show the connection between the destruction of the environment and the extinction of animals. So while they are environmental, the animal link is what draws people’s sympathy.

Click here to view all the ads….

I have to say, I wish that the AR movement had the money to advertise in every venue from Time Square to Vogue to the walls of subways. Mercy for Animals did it in Chicago with some great anti fur ads. And COK puts pro veg advertisements on MTV. And I seriously think that’s the way to get people interested and thinking about the issues.I’d love to see this little canine fellow, with his neck fur missing, pasted all over mid town…

Marley and Me/New Years January 1, 2009

Last night my husband and I went to see Marley and Me. Actually we went to see Gran Torino but it was sold out. SOLD OUT! We were the only people there under 50, and the amount of fur coats I saw at the movies rivaled a night on the upper east side or mid town on the first cold day. It was disgusting. And it made me pretty damn mad. Also, who the hell wears a fur coat to a sticky movie theatre?

Anyway - Marley and Me. A cute film. I’m a book snob so it’s not the kind of book I would normally read or the kind of movie I would usually see. This holiday season I’ve seen Slumdog Millionaire, Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Gran Torino was next on my list but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Marley and Me was cute and it was nice that a movie reflected on the life of a dog and how an animal in the home can impact a family for the better.

What I really loved about the film was that no matter how unruly Marley was, his guardians never ever raised a hand to him. Even at his worst, no form of abusive punishment was used. So kudos to the film for being animal friendly. As for the use of animals in films - well that’s a different question. But I do believe all those puppies were adopted by crew members at the end.

I hope you all had a great New Year and have a happy and healthy 2009…