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A major knitwear brand which supplied the Hogwarts uniforms worn in the Harry Potter film series has vowed to ditch cashmere.
Lochaven of Scotland vowed to ban the fabric following the release of an exposé on cashmere farms and in abattoirs in China and Mongolia – the two countries responsible for 90 percent of the world’s cashmere production.
GRAPHIC: PETA’S investigation
Ditching cashmere
The investigation, by vegan charity PETA, revealed ‘workers pinning down crying goats as their legs were bent and their hair was torn out with sharp metal combs’ and ‘animals recorded moving for minutes afterward’ after having their throats slit.
In addition to ditching cashmere, Lochaven of Scotland is also launching a range of new items made with all-vegan, synthetic fiber. It has also reduced the wool content of certain popular items.
‘Stand-up to cruelty’
“Gentle goats’ hair is torn out and the animals are hit with hammers and hacked to death, all for cashmere sweaters and scarves,” PETA Director, Elisa Allen, said in a statement.
“Lochaven of Scotland has just stood up to cruelty to animals in a huge way, and PETA is urging all other clothing companies to follow its compassionate, business-savvy lead and go cashmere-free.”
PETA adds that cashmere has the highest environmental impact of any animal-derived fiber, and that many warm, stylish, and eco-friendly vegan alternatives exist, including bamboo, Tencel, hemp, modal, viscose, organic cotton, and soy cashmere (a by-product of the production of soy foods).
A spokesperson for Lochaven of Scotland said: “Apart from the Harry Potter products we also work with some of the best-known clothing brands in the world and later this year will be launching a range with a hugely popular Japanese brand made from 100 percent animal-free fiber.”
