Animal Cruelty in Fashion

For centuries, animals have been subjected to inhumane and unethical treatment at the hands of humanity. Every year, 50 million animals are killed for fashion and millions of others are cruelly tested upon for cosmetic purposes. This number is staggering. However, in today’s society, this is no longer justifiable.

Arguably, one of the most relied upon and common fabrics used in clothing is leather. This material is extracted from animal skin, and its mass production has created a cruel system of animal farming, where inhumane procedures such as skinning, castrations, horning and branding are common practice – often with no pain relief. The animals are neglected and subjected to unimaginable suffering before their slaughter. Leather is not the only material that is derived from animal skin.

However, it doesn’t end there. Animal testing is another form of animal cruelty used within the fashion industry. Typically, chemicals are inserted into the eyes of the animal, a painful procedure which is repeated over a period of months. Although the use of animal testing is now illegal in the UK, it is still legal in many other countries, such as China and the USA, and remains a common practice in many big cosmetic brands.

There are already many existing ingredients and formulas that are known to be safe and trusted, animal testing is no longer defensible. We live in a world where veganism and the green economy are on the rise, and it is no longer fashionable to wear an animal’s corpse. We are waking up to the gross mistreatment of animal negligence within the fashion industry. There are alternatives, and this abuse must come to an end.