Harvey Nichols has become the latest key fashion vendor to say it will go fur-free, joining other stores and brands that have made the move as campaign groups continue working to drive fur out of the fashion industry.
Harvey Nichols said it was starting to phase out the products with the process to be complete by year-end as part of an ongoing review and its focus on sustainability.
It had previously introduced a fur-free policy in 2004, but began selling such products including again in 2013. Some of the brands it sells (such as Canada Goose and Moncler) have already announced their own fur phase-out that should be complete this year.
Humane Society International (HSI) UK said its #FurFreeBritain campaign has claimed another win with Harvey Nichols and that the luxe department store chain’s decision follows an investigation into Chinese fur farms by the animal protection organisation.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at HSI in the UK, said: “Harvey Nichols going fur-free is an iconic moment in our campaign for a fur-free Britain. This world famous British department store has come to the inevitable conclusion that so-called ‘ethical fur’ simply doesn’t exist and fur farming flies in the face of any credible notion of sustainability. Harvey Nichols’ compassionate stance now leaves the handful of remaining retailers that continue to sell fur looking increasingly isolated.”
Other retailers and brands to have announced the policy include Frasers Group, Farfetch, Net-A-Porter, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada.