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FUR
Minks, foxes, raccoon dogs, chinchillas, coyotes, raccoons, rabbits and many more: at least 70 million animals raised and 10 million captured each year become furs. A very high impact in terms of lives: it is enough to produce just 1 kg of fur, 12 animals are killed! As if that were not enough, some chemical substances, toxic and carcinogenic, used in the processing phases of fur, can remain present on the finished product.
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FEATHER
Feathers for padding are obtained from ducks and geese: just 100g of feathers or down from a duck and 150200g from a goose. Although many companies claim that they are not using the painful and cruel practice of live-plucking, animals are bred under conditions that fail to meet their natural needs. Products with “genuine feathers” are not better than those with synthetic padding. Indeed, comparative tests demonstrate that alternative synthetic materials have a better breathability than feathers. As an alternative to feathers, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
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"TRADITIONAL" HIDES AND SKINS
Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and pigs: millions of animals (adults and young) are sacrificed each year to produce hides and skins for the fashion industry. Contrary to what one may think, hides and skins are not derived from food industry waste, but are a business in itself. The tanning process uses numerous substances that are toxic and carcinogenic to humans. Moreover, liquid and solid waste, animal residues, and gas emissions from the processing and tanning of hides and skins pollute the environment. As an alternative to hides and skins, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
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WOOL
With a 25% share of worldwide production, Australia is the primary global exporter of wool. Even if sheep reared for wool are not killed, shearing is a very cruel process, which may cause cuts or injuries to the immobilised animals. In some instances, sheep undergo partial amputations (mulesing). Every year, when wool production decreases, tens of millions of sheep are loaded onto ships destined for the Middle East and North Africa to be slaughtered. As an alternative to wool, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
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OTHER YARNS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN
Fifty per cent of the goats that produce prized mohair wool are bred in South Africa, whereas cashmere goats are raised especially in Asia and the Middle East. Yarns are also obtained from many South-American camelids (alpaca, vicuna, guanaco, and llama), as well as camels and yaks. Soil erosion, desertification, lack of traceability, and poor animal welfare are just some of the critical issues raised by these industries. Moreover, angora wool is sourced from rabbits: the yarn is obtained in a cruel way, by ripping the fur from live animals. As an alternative to yarns of animal origin, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
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SILK
Up to 50,000 silkworms are sacrificed to harvest 100kg of cocoons, from which 20-25kg of silk are produced. Silkworms are plunged into boiling water and killed before they leave their cocoons. This is a cruel practice, which does not take into account the existence of numerous cheaper and stronger alternative materials. The high number of animals killed, waste of water resources, and use of substances harmful to human health are the key critical aspects of this industry. As an alternative to silk, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
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HIDES AND SKINS FROM EXOTIC ANIMALS
Due to the lack of reliable data and sources, it is impossible to quantify the number of exotic animals, e.g. pythons, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, but also ostriches, sharks, rays, and eels, which are killed for the luxury fashion industry. These animals are often caught in the wild, forced to live in captivity, and then cruelly killed: beheading, a blow to the head, and asphyxia are the most common methods. In these industries, there are no rules on the protection of animals, on their monitoring and control by third parties, as well as on effective inspections and detailed reporting, with the consequent risk of feeding their illegal trade. As an alternative to hides and skins, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
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KANGAROO SKINS
In Australia, 45 million kangaroos have been culled in the past 20 years, with a view to creating grazing land for sheep reared for their wool. This is an alarming figure, which does not consider approximately 700,000 orphaned joeys that die every year after the killing of their mothers. It is an unprecedented slaughter that supplies the kangaroo meat and skin business. In Europe, Italy is the leading importer of raw kangaroo skins (over 2 million bought from 2012 to 2016). The most common users of these skins are sportswear companies: motorcycling (suits) and soccer (footwear). As an alternative to hides and skins, you may use different types of fibre, either renewable (natural vegetable or man-made artificial) or non-renewable (man-made synthetic).
