Saks Fifth Avenue will close its fur salons by the end of fiscal year 2021 and stop selling fur by the end of fiscal year 2022, the company announced recently.
Saks Chief Merchandising Officer Tracy Margolies, who noted in a statement that fur has become “a significant social issue”, said the company decided to phase out fur products due to “customer preferences and societal shifts.”
That decision means all types of fur-bearing animals — from mink, fox, and chinchilla, to sable, coyotes, and beavers — will get to stay in their own skins, according to the company’s website.
This welcome news follows a months-long push from the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, which launched a campaign to raise awareness of the fur industry’s cruelty by holding protests and disruptions inside and outside the company’s stores, said on-the-ground Animal Activist Soul Eubanks.
“I think this is an incredible victory for animals, and I am honored that I was able to participate in this campaign to end the use of furs in Saks Fifth,” Eubanks told Lady Freethinker.
But Eubanks added the fight for better treatment of animals is far from over.
“Although I am grateful for this victory, animals are still exploited in a variety of ways,” Eubanks said. “We must continue to fight for the end of all animal abuse and exploitation.”
Numerous other fashion superstars also have pledged to go fur-free in recent years, including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom. Luxury fashion brands such as Prada, Burberry, Michael Kors, Gucci, Chanel, and Versace also have adopted fur-free policies, reflecting a growing condemnation of animal cruelty among consumers.
Lady Freethinker applauds Saks Fifth Avenue for joining the growing list of businesses with progressive, animal-friendly policies.
