Don’t Strip The ‘Moo’
Animal Cruelty in the Fashion Industry
It’s a bright sunny day in San Francisco! Rhea is all geared up for the luncheon organized in the city and she looks herself up in the mirror. So, All decked up in her favourite costume and accessories from her go-to brand. Hence, she feels confident in her attire and is looking forward to a wonderful evening with her friends.
Little does she know, that in some corner of the world – a cow was hurt for garnishing the leather, a sheep was reared for the fury clothes, a rhino was sacrificed for the vintage necklace, and a snake was forsaken for the premium shoe leather. Thus, We seldom stop and think of the myriad impacts. So, we create on the environment and animals in our pursuit to overpower ourselves. And, it spends our busy little day-to-day lives!
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Annually, all over the world, billions of animals are hurt and go through a lot of suffering for clothing and accessories. Skin is taken from them to make leather, animals are caged and mis-treated for life before being sacrificed for their essential parts / body organs, feathers are uprooted from birds who in turn go through pain and misery.
Thus, Illegal poaching for Rhino horns and critical parts of endangered species in certain parts of the world is a huge business run by systemic organizations. Thus, It cause additional violence, baring aside the misery inflicted on the animals. Hence, Sheep can often beat and butcher by workers stealing their wool and their skin for shearling in Animal Cruelty. So, Goats are similarly exploit for cashmere and mohair. All this cutting, killing can do in the name of fashion!
The poor living creatures may force to live in
cramped, filthy, non-monitored conditions, with
no freedom whatsoever. The animals are at the
mercy and whims of workers who handle them
on a day-to-day basis.
After a lifetime of sacrifice with by-products
will sell at lucrative prices, they may violently
slaughtered via the cheapest means possible,
including bludgeoning, anal electrocution, and
gassing. Some are even dismembered and
skinned alive.
“Trapped animals use for his or her fur can suffer for days from blood loss, shock, dehydration. Or, can attack by predators before trappers return to kill them.” Says PETA.
Fashion Industry
Hence, The fashion industry is one of the largest in the world. Have you ever wondered why slaughter houses and dairy farms are so profitable? So, This is primarily because once the milk producing capabilities of cows is limited or gradually declining. Thus, they are sacrificed for their skin. It may consider as a luxury and a high-priced product in the form of calf-skin. So, The skin of the animal is often considered to be a significant economic co-product of the meatpacking industry, while the fat and blood is leveraged for cosmetics.
More than 2.29 billion cows, calves, buffaloes, pigs, and goats can kill every year for his or her skins globally. Thus, Even more alarming is the fact, that in certain scenarios, the poor creatures can skin alive – the mere thought of which is so disturbing!
What Is In USA?
In the US, while leather is made from sheep,
lambs, goats, and pigs – a majority of it is
made from the skins of cattle and calves.
While there are regulations in place for
“exotic” animals / reptiles approaching
extinction, such as alligators and crocodiles,
there can limit checks and regulations in
place for the ‘cattle-class’.
Fashion enterprise is likewise the second
most maximum polluting enterprise globally.
Apparel production has doubled over the last
~15 years to meet consumers’ demand – this
is further aggravating the situation and adding
‘salt-to-injury’.
All About Brands
While there are various brands that are still producing clothes and accessories out of animal fur and skin – it’s a relief to know that there are also fashion brands that consider animal cruelty a sin. They have taken revolutionary steps in taking the fashion to another level without the involvement of any material that derives from killing animals.
Multiple industries all over the world are trying to
do their bits and parts, while laws are changing
on animal abuse as well. The change comes not
just from the industry leaders, but with the
awareness in the society that “animals are not
ours”.
Thanks to PETA, for making an effort for taking
steps against top fashion brands and persuading
them to stop using animal derived materials in
the production of fashionable goods and
accessories.
What we pick to wear has a powerful impact. We
should understand that our values and lifestyles
matter a lot on a global scale – and directly
impact the lives of so many speechless creatures.
Sustainable Fashion
Our clothing choices not only improve our lives but also shape the future we leave for our children. ‘Sustainable Fashion’ is the way to go. Only after making simple and sustainable choices in life, we can shape a healthy future for our future generations and impose limited struggle to the poor animals.
With the modifications withinside the legal guidelines and rules at higher level, it’s appropriate to recognise that there are approaches to supply garments and style add-ons without the use of animal substances. The idea of carrying vegan garments is gaining popularity – and this is a step in the right direction to absolutely prevent the
slaughtering of animals. The truth that younger generation and GEN Z’s are way more aware of the negative implications of animal abuse on the planet – in itself is a positive thing to look at and a big win for the future generations to come.
FOUR PAWS
Various actions may take by fashion industries to reduce animal cruelty. Let’s review the study on animal welfare by FOUR PAWS which says-
- 38% of fashion brands appear to consider animal welfare, but this affects majorly on their supply chain
- 25% of brands have formal animal welfare policy
- 21% of brands uses assurance schemes which prioritise animal welfare, to trace at least some of their animal derived materials
- 9% of brands have an animal welfare policy and meet minimum 3 out of 5 best practice animal welfare principles as set out by FOUR LAWS
Many of us know about the vegan fabrics like polyester and cotton. The fashion business that are involved in making vegan clothes and accessories are booming in the 21st century. The vegan fabrics and accessories that are available today across various brand are much lighter and durable. So, These merchandises are advanced in first-class. And, they may really be a sustainable method capable of creating a planet secure for both animals and human beings.
Hence, It’s certainly time to look deeply into the involvement of animals withinside the style enterprise. So, Animal Cruelty ought to alternate the negative impact of fashion into a more ethical, positive, and empowering reality. Thus, There’s a growing consensus in delivering ‘Sustainable Fashion’ to our future generations. However, we need to collectively fight this battle and protect the life-worthiness of the speechless animals, who devote their lives to us human beings!
References
- https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/#:~:text=Animals%20Used%20for%20Clothing,being%20killed%20for%20their%20fur.
- https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/animals-used-clothing-factsheets/leather-animals-abused-killed-skins/
- https://www.panaprium.com/blogs/i/use-animals-fashion
- https://www.hsi.org/news-media/fur-trade/