Conservation experts have criticized London Fashion Week’s decision to ban exotic animal skins from its 2025 shows as “ridiculous”, saying it is ill-informed and that many snake, crocodile and reptile species It warned that protection could be compromised.
Last month, David Lee-Pemberton, deputy director of policy and engagement at the British Fashion Council, announced to parliament that crocodile, snake and other animal skins would be banned from next year’s fashion shows. The council said in a statement that the ban is part of broader standards to promote sustainable practices in the fashion industry.
But scientific experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, condemned the decision and said exotic skins are a far more sustainable option than leather or synthetic materials. He said that there are many cases. They argue that a ban would undermine economic incentives for local communities to save species, and warn that claims that the decision was taken on sustainability grounds are “false”. .
Luxury bags made from exotic skins can sell for tens of thousands of pounds, with some of that money going towards protecting the species from which they are made.
Daniel Natush, chairman of the IUCN Snake Expert Group, questioned the rationale for the decision. He pointed to examples where community groups in Papua New Guinea and along the Zambezi River have developed sustainable harvesting systems for exotic skins that benefit communities and wildlife as a whole.
“If you don’t like using animals for skins or whatever it is, that’s fine. But don’t tell the world it’s because you care about sustainability. All life cycle analysis Done, except for the pineapple leather. As far as we know, there is no more sustainable raw material than exotic skins, especially python. That’s ridiculous. If designers were serious and knowledgeable, we’d all be wearing snakeskin pants. “I guess so,” he said.
The decision makes London the first of the “big four” fashion weeks (Paris, Milan, New York and London) to ban exotic skins. Its use drew praise from animal rights activists, who called it unnecessary and unethical. Fur has previously been banned from events.
Dr Dilys Loh, chair of IUCN’s Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Expert Group, said London Fashion Week organizers had misguided.
“There’s this assumption that because it’s wild, it’s unethical. If they’re concerned about animal welfare, what’s the difference between them and domesticated animals? Snakes aren’t endangered. Some animals, like crocodiles, “With species, the fact that people can earn money by collecting eggs creates an incentive to protect them,” she said.
“It’s a false assumption that faux fur and faux skin are better from an overall sustainability standpoint. When you look at what’s in them, you can see the carbon emissions and associated It still contains chemicals that cause sudden reactions.
“If you buy a Hermès crocodile leather handbag, you’re not going to buy it and throw it in a landfill. The opposite of all of this is fast fashion,” she said.
The British Fashion Council did not respond to requests for comment.
