Join Kim Basinger in Telling Yohji Yamamoto to Stop Using Fur

Leading Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto received a heart-felt letter from Academy Award–winning actor Kim Basinger asking him to take cruelty out of his designs. She wrote, "By making the kind choice to shun fur (and fur trim, which helps to keep the cruel fur trade alive), you can be a leader in fashion and compassion, setting a wonderful example for the rest of the industry to follow." Although everyone who buys fur contributes to this cruelty, she reminds Yohji Yamamoto that "as Japan's leading fashion designer, you in particular are able to set an example for others and establish a more compassionate trend away from fur." Many top designers—including Stella McCartney, Betsey Johnson, Anne Klein, Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garçons, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Bouwer, Chloé, Perry Ellis, and Todd Oldham—already refuse to work with fur.
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Fashion designers bring back real fur for winter

AUSTRALIAN fashion designers have broken a major taboo by bringing back real
fur in winter collections this year, angering animal rights activists.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have been ardently
against the use of fur or pelt in the fashion industry.

However, Alannah Hill, Lisa Ho and Rachel Gilbert are using rabbit fur in
collections, while Kaftan queen Camilla Franks is selling vests made from
raccoon and fox pelts.

But their fellow designers Nicola Finetti and Charlie Brown have spoken out
against the move which bucks the industry's strong anti-fur trend in recent
years.

"Fur is about killing animals. It doesn't matter how much you regulate the
fur industry, or where the fur comes from - it is always wrong," said
Finetti, whose designs are worn by Jennifer Hawkins and Miranda Otto.

Charlie Brown said while she loved animal prints, she was an advocate for
fake fur.

"We don't live in a freezing climate so what are we doing? It's not
necessary in Australia," she said.

Lisa Ho features rabbit fur in her current winter range, with a range of
jackets and vests in the pelt priced at up to $850.

Designer, Alannah Hill is also selling fur-trimmed pieces in her current
winter range.

She defended her use of rabbit, telling The Sunday Mail that she didn't
consider the animal pelt to be a fur.

"I don't use fur," she said. "I've used rabbit on collars and a tiny bit on
some cuffs, but to me that's not using fur."

Australian Vogue editor Kirstie Clements said the trend had filtered down
from the international catwalks.

At the Milan, New York, London, and Paris Fashion Week shows, a total of 164
designers featured animal skin or fur in their collections, up from 156 the
previous year.

"On the international stage, fur does appear to be making a comeback," she
said.


http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25800157-953,00.html