In 2017 Gucci sent out a widely publicised press release that the Florentine fashion house would ban fur from its collections. In a statement the company said its new policy underlined a modern and ethical vision for luxury.
While Gucci's fur-trimmed loafers were an enormous profit driver after their debut in 2015, from its SS18 collection onward Gucci stopped using kangaroo fur inside its loafer line and replaced it with lambswool. The brand also halted the use of angora. In 2021 Gucci said it was reviewing its strategic approach to all the raw materials found in its collections, including new solutions for categories like leather, where from 2025 any and all leather used must be traceable to farms.
And then there was a felt hat with rabbit
Despite its ban, products manufactured with rabbit fur were found in Gucci’s stores just this week. Awkwardly, a felt hat that was being promoted for Lunar New Year – the year of the rabbit – actually contained bona fide rabbit fur.
Called out by Rebecca C on LinkedIn, she wrote in a post that “Gucci is part of the Fur Free Alliance's ‘Fur Free Retailer’ program and as of 2021, parent company Kering went fur-free too.
But now, their new collection and ad campaign “A Tribute to the Year of the Rabbit’ features a hat which the company states is made of real rabbit fur felt.
Exploiting rabbits in ads while selling products that harm them is not the way to celebrate the year of the rabbit.”
Within a matter of days Gucci responded by removing the products from its stores, but did not make a public statement. The question remains, where does the responsibility lie for its gross misjudgment?
Many brands and luxury houses have gone to great lengths (and ceremony), making public statements about banning fur and taking responsibility for sustainable manufacturing. What baffles is the long chain of command from conception to production where there was not a single flag to object to having rabbit fur: From the designers who chose the fabrics, to the production team placing material orders, to the folks overseeing the factories and sewing? And then the marketing team that ok-ed the Year of the Rabbit campaign who did not notice the furry hat contained real rabbit, nor the sales staff who work in Gucci’s stores, the very retail operators that said would no longer carry fur.
Doesn't anyone read the label?
FAQs
Gucci's fur-free policy underlines a modern and ethical vision for luxury. Gucci made headlines in October 2017 when former President and Gucci CEO, Marco Bizzarri, announced that the House would no longer use animal fur in its collections.
Is felt rabbit fur? ›
Fur felt is a type of felt that is made from smooth animal hair, e.g. that of a rabbit (in the past beaver fur was often used). It is a pressed felt and consists of a fibre that is difficult to separate, which forms a textile surface but which is not woven.
Why did Gucci stop using fur? ›
In a statement the company said its new policy underlined a modern and ethical vision for luxury. While Gucci's fur-trimmed loafers were an enormous profit driver after their debut in 2015, from its SS18 collection onward Gucci stopped using kangaroo fur inside its loafer line and replaced it with lambswool.
Does Gucci still use real fur? ›
In 2021, luxury fashion conglomerate Kering, which owns Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen and Saint Laurent, took the decision to stop using animal fur across its brands as of the autumn/winter 2022 collections.
Is rabbit fur real? ›
Rabbit fur is made by skinning rabbits. The process starts by killing the rabbit, then the skin is removed from the animal and the fur is separated from the skin.
Does a bunny have fur or hair? ›
Rabbit hair (also called rabbit fur, cony, coney, comb or lapin) is the fur of the common rabbit.
Does rabbit fur last? ›
A healthy rabbit will usually change her coat twice a year. If all things are normal, the shed areas will regrow fur as the old coat falls out.
Does Gucci use animal skin? ›
The GG Marmont leather bags—largely made of calfskin—are well-known Gucci products, but the brand never reveals the suffering sewn into them. For calfskin bags, workers kill gentle calves and then tear their skin off—after they've already been torn away from their mothers. Other Gucci items are made of exotic skins.
Does Gucci still test on animals? ›
Are Gucci Beauty products cruelty-free? No, Gucci products are not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or through a third party.
Does Gucci use animal products? ›
Is Gucci vegan? No, Gucci is not vegan. This means that some of their products may contain animal-derived ingredients. Gucci might offer some vegan products, however because this company is not cruelty-free, it's recommended to avoid any products they offer even if they are vegan.
Kering stopped using animal fur, starting with Gucci, in 2017, but did not join Chanel when the luxury brand opted to to end its use of exotic skins from lizards, snakes and crocodiles.
