The British retail company Frasers Group has told the animal rights organisation PETA that it will soon ban fur products across all areas of the business. The fur ban will apply to all Frasers Group brands, which include House of Fraser, Flannels, Sports Direct, Jack Wills, and Missguided.
The group has announced it will work with Humane Society UK to phase out as soon as possible its existing inventory of garments containing fur, but it is not clear when the ban will be enacted and when the last fur product will be sold at any of its branches.
Animal rights groups including PETA, Humane Society UK, and Four Paws have been protesting at House of Fraser stores, so they would like to know if the ban is going to happen soon, or if the announcement may be a PR tactic to stop the protest and fur will still be sold for some years by the company. PETA challenged the company’s use of fur at the stockholders’ annual meetings, so hopefully, it will continue the pressure if the change does not materialise soon.
Yvonne Taylor, PETA Director of Corporate Projects, said: “PETA tips its vegan hat to new Frasers Group CEO Michael Murray for recognising that fur is the product of a violent, bloody industry and for making the sensible and humane decision to ban its sale across the company’s brands. Today’s consumers don’t want to spend their money on the fur of tortured animals, and anyone who still sells it is out of touch with the times.”
The #FurFreeBritain campaign, a coalition composed of several animal protection organisations such as Viva!, PETA UK, Open Cages, Four Paws, Humane Society International, RSPCA, Save Me Trust, Animal Aid, and the Jane Goodal Institute, has received support from over 50 British celebrities, including the vegans Brian May CBE, Ricky Gervais, Evanna Lynx, Sara Pascoe, Chris Peckham, Peter Egan and Simon Amstell.
