Animal Rights/Vegan Activists' Strategies Articles

Three Reasons to Not Protest LVMH [Louis Vuitton] for Exotic Skins

From Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade CAFT
June 2023

If we are genuinely committed to animal liberation, we need a more pragmatic approach that yields tangible results. Here are three reasons why protesting LVMH [Louis Vuitton]or any company without a fur-free policy for exotic skins is harmful.

As an animal rights organization, CAFT USA has forced 9 fashion conglomerates to enact fur-free policies. While some may attribute our success to being the loudest voice in the room, the truth lies in our focused approach and reasonable demands. Aggressive tactics and overnight vegan expectations may garner attention online, but they do little to serve the animals we fight for.

If we are genuinely committed to animal liberation, we need a more pragmatic approach that yields tangible results.

Here are three reasons why protesting LVMH or any company without a fur-free policy for exotic skins is harmful.

1. Leverage is Lost

Companies go fur-free when targeted by the grassroots for one simple reason: they want the protests to stop.

If LVMH or any other brand believes protests will continue even if the demand to go fur-free is met then why would they go fur-free in the first place?

It is vital that we stick to our word on this issue because it can make future negotiations between companies lack a positive outcome. For this reason CAFT USA also does not protest any companies that have recently gone fur-free for any issue related to animal rights. This is an act of goodwill to ensure positive outcomes for future campaigns.

2. LVMH does not care:

Not only is LVMH not dropping exotics any time soon, they are in the news bragging about their investments.

LVMH has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into crocodile farming. They currently employ over 500 people dedicated to exotic skins and in 2019 LVMH launched the first standard for responsible crocodile farming.

Does this sound like a company on the brink of banning exotics? We think not.

3. Results Matter

While this may be a hard reality for animal rights activists it is important to remember that our personal feelings are irrelevant. The foxes on fur farms do not care how hard we tried, they care about our success in taking another step towards the end of fur.

Similarly, the crocodiles awaiting a violent death in LVMH farms in Louisiana and Australia are no better off if we fight for them and fail. Due to LVMH’s current position on exotics, failure is inevitable.

Conclusion:

Protesting LVMH for exotics indagers the success of the anti-fur movement.

Exotic skins are here to stay in the immediate future for LVMH. Confusing our demands to encompass both fur and exotics makes convincing them to adopt a fur-free policy nearly impossible.

Fur is a stepping stone in the fight for animal liberation.

Together, through well planned steps forward, we will see a day that no fox, bobcat or crocodile will be used as a product for luxury and greed.

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