NYFW Photo Op: Woman to be ‘Skinned Alive’ to Call Out Coach’s Cruel Use of Leather
For Immediate Release:
February 9, 2026
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
On Wednesday, crowds outside the Coach runway show at NYFW will witness a bloody scene as a woman, dressed to the nines in a sleek black dress, will scream out in pain as her “leather” is ripped off her back. The spectacle is part of PETA’s call on Coach to ditch its cruel use of skins and embrace the plethora of vegan leathers available today that are trending with consumers.
“Fur is officially out at New York Fashion Week, and leather must also get the boot,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA reminds shoppers that every dollar spent on a leather accessory pays for violence, and urges everyone to opt for stunning, sustainable vegan materials instead.”
Where: Outside of the Coach fashion show
When: Wednesday, February 11, 2:30 p.m.
Why: Cows have friends and mourn when a loved one dies or when they’re separated from each other. Yet cows killed for leather may be skinned and dismembered while still conscious—after they’ve endured castration (for males), branding, and tail docking, all without painkillers. In addition to the horrific cruelty that the leather industry inflicts on animals, it’s a major contributor to the climate catastrophe, water pollution, land devastation, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity. Sustainable vegan leathers are durable and fashionable without the cruelty or environmental destruction of leather.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
