Ahead of its highly anticipated pre-fall Metiers d'Art show taking place in New York on Tuesday, Chanel released a statement unveiling that they will “no longer use exotic skins in our future creations.” The Parisian fashion house has banned the use of snakes, crocodiles, lizards and other exotic skins for manufacturing.
“We are continually reviewing our supply chains to ensure they meet our expectations of integrity and traceability,” the company said in a statement. “In this context, it is our experience that it is becoming increasingly difficult to source exotic skins which match our ethical standards.”
Along with skins, the company also mentioned that fur, which they use very little, will also cease the use for. According to WWD, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the brand to source skins that measure up to house quality and ethical standards. Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel fashion and president of Chanel SAS, told the site, “The future of high-end products will come from the know-how of what our atelier is able to do.”
This comes at no surprise as the fashion industry is starting to push away from the use of fur and implement more sustainable and ethical business strategies. Coach has already promised to stop using the material by 2019, alongside Burberry who will stop burning unsold goods. Social media has also played a major part in the anti-fur movement targeting brands publicly through Instagram, Twitter and forums.
For Chanel, they conclude their statement saying, "this is a decision which provides an opportunity to create a new generation of high-end products that respect our fundamentals: the exceptional creativity of our Creative Studio, our expertise, our standards of excellence, noble and innovative materials and exceptional finish."
It's a step in the right direction that will hopefully continue the discussion of sustainability in fashion for years to come. Lastly, for consumers, expect the resell market for previous Chanel products using exotic skins or furs to skyrocket as they will become more rare and go up in value.
Be sure to let us know what you think of Chanel's stance against using exotic skins and fur.
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