London Fashion Week (LFW) has made a groundbreaking decision to become the first of the “Big Four” fashion weeks—New York, London, Milan, and Paris—to ban the use of exotic animal skins, including crocodile and snake. This decision follows the British Fashion Council (BFC)’s formal ban on fur in December 2023.
As reported by The Business of Fashion, David Leigh-Pemberton, the BFC’s deputy director for policy and engagement, announced in a speech to Parliament that brands wishing to appear on LFW’s official schedule must commit to avoiding the use of exotic skins in their collections.
This move aligns with actions taken earlier this year by Copenhagen Fashion Week, which also banned exotic skins and feathers, as well as other fashion weeks in Melbourne and Berlin that have taken similar steps. LFW, known for showcasing emerging and innovative designers, has long been at the forefront of promoting cruelty-free fashion. Many of these new designers avoid using leather, unlike some larger, more established fashion labels. However, luxury goods brands such as Hermès, Kering, and LVMH still use exotic animal skins, with products like Pharrell Williams’ Louis Vuitton “Millionaire Speedy” bag, made from crocodile leather, gaining significant attention.
Animal rights activists have strongly supported the ban, pushing for the use of exotic skins to be seen as taboo, similar to fur. PETA has been vocal in its opposition, even disrupting runway shows and protesting at fashion week venues. Peta’s VP of corporate projects, Yvonne Taylor, praised the British designers who helped bring this policy to life, stating, “Tens of thousands of PETA supporters contacted the BFC, calling for this progressive move. We salute the compassionate British designers who helped usher in this policy.”
In a video statement, Collective Fashion Justice celebrated the move, calling it “a win for wild animals, our shared planet, and us all.”
