Hundreds of people protested in Milan on Saturday (Sept 26) against the use of fur in the middle of fashion week, an AFP photographer saw.
"Fashion Victims" and "Their Lives Are Worth More Than Your Outfit" read some of the placards held up at the rally, calling on organisers to ban fur from Milan fashion week.
While fashion weeks in London and New York have banned fur from the runways. Milan has only asked brands to avoid using it.
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The Coalition To Abolish The Fur Trade (CAFT) has called for the showcase's organisers to ban the material from shows altogether.
Fashion giants like Armani, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana already refuse to use fur.
But there are notable exceptions in Italy such as Fendi, which belongs to France's LVMH.
Campaigners have regularly disrupted the four fashion weeks in Milan, criticising the cruelty of breeding animals for fur and the conditions they are often held in.
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The use of fur in the global fashion industry has gone down sharply in recent years because of greater concern about animal wellbeing, changing consumer habits and the appearance of synthetic alternatives.
The controversy reflects a broader shift in fashion, where animal welfare is increasingly being folded into wider conversations about sustainability and responsible production. – AFP
