By Shawna Healey
Back in February, Selfridges made history with the announcement that they would be ending their sale of exotic animal skin products, phasing them out by 2020, making them the first major department shop to do so.
The store stopped selling fur back in 2005, and will now phase out inventory made from the skins of crocodiles, alligators, lizards and pythons.
By 2020, the department shop will only sell products from ‘agricultural livestock’ including cows, calves, and lambs, such as leather and wool.
This comes after the introduction of their 2016 Buying Better Strategy, which includes a commitment to ensuring that 50% of the products it sells are “better for people and planet by 2022”.
Parisian fashion giant Chanel announced back in December 2018 that they will also stop using exotic animal skins in their production.
Humane Society International executive director, Claire Bass, said:
“It is wonderful to see Selfridges end the sale of exotic skins, a move that will save countless crocodiles and snakes from losing their lives. When Selfridges went fur-free more than a decade ago, it positioned itself as a retailer at the forefront of compassionate fashion. Banning exotic skins in recognition of the serious animal welfare issues that exist in this industry is a natural next step for a responsible retailer.”
Despite a recent rise in animal welfare concerns, many retailers still use fur and other animal products, sometimes even advertising it as fake.
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