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Major online retailer ASOS is ditching a number of animal-derived materials including mohair, silk, cashmere and feathers.
The internet giant – which stocks more than 850 labels alongside its own-brand clothing and accessories – confirmed that it’ll also ban cashmere, silk, down, and feathers across its entire platform by the end of January 2019.
The ban follows an exposé of the mohair industry in South Africa by leading animal rights charity PETA. As a result of the footage more than more 140 international retailer – including Topshop, H&M, and Marks & Spencer – have banned the material.
Changing the industry
PETA Director of Corporate Projects, Yvonne Taylor, said: “PETA applauds ASOS for leading the charge for compassion in fashion.
“In response to PETA’s campaigns, consumers are changing the face of the industry by demanding that designers and retailers ditch animal-derived materials in favour of cruelty-free alternatives that look great without causing suffering.”
Footage from PETA’s investigation
Suffering
PETA adds: “Each year, the mohair, cashmere, down, and silk industries exploit countless goats, geese, ducks, and silkworms, causing these sentient beings unnecessary pain and suffering.
“PETA revealed that angora goats reared for the mohair industry endured mutilation of their sensitive ears with tattoo pliers, which left them screaming in pain.
“Shearers – who are paid by volume, not by the hour – worked quickly and carelessly, leaving the animals cut and bleeding. Workers roughly stitched them up without giving them any pain relief.”
