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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor decades, animal rights activists, campaigners and ethical designers have fought to strip fur fashion of its glamour and expose the cruelty behind it.<\/p>\n
From bold celebrity-led protests to quiet shifts in consumer values, these efforts have slowly reshaped the fashion landscape.<\/p>\n
Now, one of the industry\u2019s most influential gatekeepers, Cond\u00e9 Nast \u2013 publisher of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Glamour \u2013 has announced it will no longer feature \u201cnew animal fur in editorial content or advertising\u201d across its titles.<\/p>\n
The decision, which includes exceptions for what are outlined as \u201cbyproducts of subsistence and Indigenous practices\u201d, marks a symbolic turning point within the fashion media landscape due to Cond\u00e9 Nast\u2019s global reach.<\/p>\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>Former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is one of fur\u2019s most powerful advocates (Getty)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIt is especially significant given Vogue\u2019s legacy in glamorising fur and its historically unwavering support under former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, one of fur\u2019s most powerful advocates in fashion media and a long-time target of the anti-fur movement.<\/p>\n
Wintour remains involved at Cond\u00e9 Nast in the role of chief content officer, and as Vogue\u2019s global editorial director.<\/p>\n
Anti-fur campaigns<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n The announcement by Cond\u00e9 Nast follows a nine-month campaign led by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade. This activist group staged more than a hundred protests targeting Cond\u00e9 Nast executives, editors and affiliated businesses.<\/p>\n
Demonstrations ranged from picketing outside the homes of Vogue editors to disruptive actions inside stores linked to Cond\u00e9 Nast through board affiliations.<\/p>\n
While this campaign undoubtedly influenced the publisher\u2019s decision, it was likely the culmination of anti-fur advocacy dating back to the early 20th century.<\/p>\n
The long tail of the movement<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Animal rights activism in fashion can be traced back to the late 19th century, when the feather trade decimated bird populations and led to the extinction of species prized for their plumage.<\/p>\n
Anti-fur activism followed. It gained momentum in the 1970s, and with the founding of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 1980.<\/p>\n
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open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>An activist disrupting Victoria Beckham’s show at Paris Fashion Week in 2024 (PETA\/PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThrough high-profile campaigns exposing the cruelty of fur farms, PETA enlisted celebrities and models to pose nude in its iconic \u201cI\u2019d rather go naked than wear fur\u201d ads.<\/p>\n
These efforts led to tangible change. Calvin Klein dropped fur in 1994, citing animal advocacy. Since then, fur-free policies have become a relatively easy win for brands navigating the increasingly complex ethics of animal materials.<\/p>\n
A new standard for luxury fashion<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Several US states have banned fur sales, and fur farming is now outlawed in countries including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Austria, Italy and Norway.<\/p>\n
Cond\u00e9 Nast\u2019s new position places it alongside other media and fashion leaders. Elle magazine went fur-free in 2021. Major luxury brands such as Max Mara, Burberry, Chanel, Prada, Valentino and Versace have adopted similar policies, as have retailers including David Jones (Australia), Macy\u2019s (US), Nordstrom (US), Saks Fifth Avenue (US) and Hudson\u2019s Bay (Canada).<\/p>\n\nAbout the author<\/h2>\nRachel Lamarche-Beauchesne is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Enterprise at Torrens University Australia.<\/p>\n
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
In 2022, French luxury conglomerate Kering also committed to a fur-free policy across its brand portfolio.<\/p>\n
The largest remaining holdout is LVMH (Mo\u00ebt Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE) \u2013 the parent company of Dior and Fendi \u2013 which faces mounting pressure to follow suit.<\/p>\n
The fur paradox<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Despite these shifts, fur remains a fascination within fashion, and periodic revivals are still celebrated in the press.<\/p>\n
TikTok\u2019s 2024 \u201cmob wives\u201d aesthetic, featuring oversized fur coats and animal prints, sparked a return of fur on winter runways. Singer Sabrina Carpenter even wore a special edition Louis Vuitton fox fur coat on the day of the Met Gala.<\/p>\n
This paradox reflects fashion\u2019s cyclical and often contradictory nature. Faux fur and faux shearling are increasingly used to replicate the luxury aesthetic without the ethical baggage. Yet debates about the environmental impact of synthetic fur complicate this narrative.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Cond\u00e9 Nast\u2019s fur-free stance comes at a time when many fashion brands are rethinking or rolling back their sustainability commitments.<\/p>\n
Some industry observers worry climate goals are being deprioritised. Ralph Lauren, for instance, has dropped its net-zero emissions target. Also, the Vestiaire Collective, a platform for pre-loved luxury item resale, has started monetising its activities by selling carbon credits, demonstrating the difficulty of navigating current market conditions.<\/p>\n
Still, there are signs of progress. Stella McCartney\u2019s Summer 2025 Paris Fashion Week show featured feather alternatives made of plant-based materials.<\/p>\n
This year also marked the first Australian Fashion Week in which fur, feathers and exotic leathers were banned from catwalks.<\/p>\n
Animal rights advocates, such as Collective Fashion Justice founder Emma Hakansson, continue to push for the industry to reduce its use of leather, wool and other animal-derived material.<\/p>\n
This space is dynamic and evolving. Whether Cond\u00e9 Nast\u2019s decision is a tipping point, or another fashion fad, remains to be seen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more For decades, animal rights activists, campaigners and ethical designers have fought to strip fur fashion of its glamour and expose the cruelty behind it. From bold celebrity-led protests to quiet shifts in consumer values, these efforts have slowly reshaped the fashion landscape. Now, one of the industry\u2019s most influential gatekeepers, Cond\u00e9 Nast \u2013 publisher of Vogue, Vanity Fair and Glamour \u2013 has announced it will no longer feature \u201cnew animal fur in editorial content or advertising\u201d across its titles. The decision, which includes exceptions for what are outlined as \u201cbyproducts of subsistence and Indigenous practices\u201d, marks a symbolic turning point within the fashion media landscape due to Cond\u00e9 Nast\u2019s global reach. open image in gallery Former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is one of fur\u2019s most powerful advocates (Getty) It is especially significant given Vogue\u2019s legacy in glamorising fur and its historically unwavering support under former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, one of fur\u2019s most powerful advocates in fashio…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7108"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}