High street fashion giants New Look, Ted Baker, Next and Matalan have banned alpaca wool from future collections following an investigation into animal cruelty on alpaca farms
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New Look, Ted Baker, Next and Matalan are following the likes of Marks & Spencer and Valentino in banning alpaca wool from future collections.
The brands made the decision following an undercover investigation by PETA which revealed mistreatment of the animals at the largest alpaca wool producer in Peru earlier this year.
PETA undertook an undercover investigation into Mallkini, the world’s largest privately-owned alpaca farm in Peru, in order to reveal the reality of the suffering inflicted on the animals for their fur.
Horrific and upsetting video footage taken by the organisation discovered that “workers held struggling, crying alpacas by the ears as they were roughly shorn with electric clippers, causing some to vomit out of fear”.
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According to PETA, River Island, Hunter, and Barbour have confirmed they already prohibited the use of the material in their fashion lines.
Shocking images
Michell, which owns Mallkini, released a statement following PETA’s investigation earlier this year, saying: “The shocking images transmitted in the video undoubtedly show excesses that we deeply deplore and affect us profoundly. They have clearly been edited and show unacceptable mistreatment practices carried out by negligent shearers.
“We want to reiterate our commitment to continue striving to improve our animal welfare, to work for a healthier environment, to provide the best products and services to all of you, to take care of our collaborators, and to contribute to our community, always in an honest and transparent manner.”
Marks & Spencer joins likes of Esprit, Gap Inc and H&M in cutting ties with Mallkini’s parent company, the Michell Group.
PETA is now calling on retailer Anthropologie to ditch alpaca wool after the company was discovered to still be selling items containing alpaca wool.
Sign the petition asking Anthropolgie to stop selling alpaca wool here.
