ACTAsia
March 2018
It’s a sure sign we’re winning when Versace tells Vogue “Fur is over!
Coyote
There’s no doubt we’re living through a time of revolution for the role
of fur in high-end fashion. Finally, established fashion houses with the
reputation, money, and influence to trickle-down a whole lot more than
style, are waking up to the truth.
“Fur has traditionally been a symbol of status and wealth but nowadays,
thanks to public education, most high-end retailers and consumers know that
it represents cruelty, exploitation, pollution, and irresponsible trading.
Designers with any sense of worth do not want to be associated with that
sort of self-indulgence anymore,” says ACTAsia’s founder Pei Su.
Asian Raccoon Dog Puppy
When Donatella Versace declared last week that she no longer wants to kill
animals to make fashion, she was the latest in a line of exclusive brands
which are becoming uncomfortable with the processes of fur. Gucci, Armani,
Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Furla, and Versace all seem to agree that the end
can no longer justify the means.
Unfortunately, China does not have the same self-consciousness about its image when it comes to fur. As a nation, it’s responsible for about 80% of fur consumption worldwide, and the industry is worth $17 billion a year to China alone. ACTAsia is particularly concerned with cheaper fur that floods the market from China, where there are no legislating standards in production.
It’s encouraging that a recent media report stated ‘Millennial consumers
worldwide and in China have started to embrace faux fur, partly out of
concerns over animal cruelty,’ but there is still much work to be done.
At this pivotal time, ACTAsia will be hosting a Sustainable Fashion Forum
and Fur Free Fashion Show in Shanghai, in May this year. The forum will
include presentations and panel discussions on sourcing, using and marketing
materials for sustainable fashion. Members of the Fur Free Retailers scheme
will share their experiences, and showcase compassionate fashion on the
catwalk for all guests of the gala to see.
At a cultural crossroads, ACTAsia is committed to continuing our education
campaign on China’s fur industry.
“There’s still a long way to go in educating the Chinese public, especially
millennials, about why it’s desirable to make more compassionate fashion
choices,” says Pei Su. “The public do not have the same understanding that
we do in the West, such as the impact on animal welfare, implications of
exposure to toxic chemicals by the workforce and consumers, and devastating
pollution of the environment, and that is why it is our job to educate
them.”
We need your support to educate more consumers and retailers on the truth
about fur. With your help, we can reach millions of Chinese shoppers and ask
them to join-up to a Fur Free life, as well as dozens of Chinese designers
and retailers, to ask them to stop using fur in their products.
Please DONATE to ACTAsia!
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