In light of the tragic Australian bush fires claiming millions of marsupials’ lives, luxury fashion giant Versace’s recently-adopted policy against using kangaroo leather is garnering worldwide applause.
The company decided to stop creating products with kangaroo hide last year but refrained from making a press release about it. The public remained largely unaware of the decision until earlier this month.
“We can confirm that there will be a complete stop to the use of kangaroo leather,” a Versace spokesperson verified to the Telegraph.
The billions of animals lost to the wildfires did not directly influence Versace’s new policy; the decision followed an autumn 2019 animal rights campaign against the annual culling of wild kangaroos. During the campaign, activists called on Italian fashion companies to stop killing kangaroos for their hides.
Animal rights advocates and organizations are praising the change, which comes two years after the company’s decision to no longer use real fur in its products.
“Good on ya, Versace!” said PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews. “Kangaroos are slaughtered by the millions every year, and their skins are often used for football boots and other footwear.”
“It’s an important gesture,” said Simone Pavesi of the Italian welfare organization LAV, “no more so than now when the bush fires devastating Australia are having such dramatic consequences on kangaroo populations.”
As animal cruelty is exposed with increasing frequency, fashion companies are starting to recognize that death and fashion don’t need to be linked.
“I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion,” said Donatella Versace, the company’s creative director. “It doesn’t feel right.”
Lady Freethinker couldn’t agree more, and urges Versace to end the use of ALL animal skins in their line.
Big shame on you for doing this torture action!!!
Big shame on you for doing this torture action!!!
Thank you.
Any animal that is abused in any way is horrific
So it took a horrific wildfire so Versace – “fashion giant” stopped appalling holocaust of kangaroos? So it was all right doing it before it?
Such hypocrisy is disgusting !
Also, did they stop holocaust of other animals not on Australian continent? Certainly not, greed after all, comes first …
We don’t need to cull animals, we have already taken the lives, of far too many animals in the nane of selfishness, when you consider that a large amount of habitats have already been destroyed to make way for our own selfish means.
Stop killing animals
What took so long !!!!
thanks to you
Horror they were using kangaroo hides at the first place!
Horror they were using angora hides at the first place!
THANKS TO VERSACE FOR YOUR GOOD HART
Thanks, Versace!
Don’t thank them too quickly. They vowed to take all animal skins off the menu in March 2018 and have failed to do so.
LONDON—In an interview with The Economist, 1843 Magazine Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace said “Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right.”
Great! But why did they refrained from informing the public for their humane move last year? Wouldn’t it be a news of massive importance and joy for animal lovers around the world? And in the process making more profit than ever? And I guess now, Australia farmers can’t send their poor burned animals to death ships to be tortured in scummy countries with no animal welfare.
These people slaughtering animals, are definitely suffering from some kind of psychiatric disorder, as the same for doing all kinds of horrible experiments on them, while they are screaming of pain, while they look on. The poor lions must be rescued asap the death clock is ticking for them. What is so difficult to let the rescuers in there NOW, so they could be still alive and get the right medicine and food.
This is what it takes for Versace to stop using living beings in their “products”? When money rules a person’s world, compassion and humanity leave their soul. The only reason Versace is no longer killing Kangaroos (for the moment) is pressure and their bottom line. This too shall pass and the killing of kangaroos for profit will continue. Here is a direct quote from Donatella herself in March 2019: LONDON—In an interview with The Economist, 1843 Magazine Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace said “Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right.”
VERSACE. You are a DISGRACE to humanity. Sick Sick Sick Sick Sick Sick.
VERSACE: Why don’t you use the PYTHONS in Florida instead of killing innocent mammals. You and your COUTURE are just one thing wrong with this sick society!
Pythons are living beings. Killing is killing is killing – no matter what the species.
Using animals As if they don’t feel pain. As if we own them and we can do whatever we want. For greed, Evil. Humanity just no longer exist For a lot of people. It’s sad these animals have no control what could happen to them we are the only ones that can help
Can’t believe how much these animals are treated so badly
Can’t believe how much these animals are treated so badly
i am doing my best to keep this comment peaceful and family friendly…………humans are the only known evil species on this planet there is not another that hurts animals for fun !!!! the people who do these things need to be put down themselves and thats as nice as i can be!!!!!!
Should of never used it to begin with & never use it again!!!
Sticker punishment including serious jail time NO MORE SLAP ON THE WRIST . These poor innocent animals suffer at the hands of those that know nothing will be done to them.
What skanks thought it was worth buying?
thank you-preserve these lovely animals
how about abolishing all leather, skins, and fur?
Namaste🐦
the Galarneau family
I had no idea Versace was using Kangaroo leather — I hope and pray Versace does NOT return to using Kangaroo products EVER AGAIN — let’s start respecting & loving Animals for a change — LET THEM LIVE — we have a wide array of materials to choose from NOT derived from Animals — for the Love of God, give us all a break.
Versace should halt the use of any fur period. They don’t deserve our applause for this. It is the humane position to take.
Agree.
Please stop It’s shameful
Bravo Versace.
Not so fast with the Bravo’s … In March 2018 LONDON—In an interview with The Economist, 1843 Magazine Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace said “Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right.” And yet the killing continued.
This is a good start Donatella. Now please stop using the skin of all animals in your fashion line.