Swatch, Taylor, Burton, and Miller Agree: Time to Go Fur-Free

October 2007

After learning from PETA how animals killed for their fur are treated, Swiss watchmaker Swatch, Burton Snowboards, and fashion giants Rebecca Taylor and Nicole Miller made the compassionate decision never to use fur in their designs again. In a letter to PETA, Swatch chief operating officer Reto J. Stockli wrote, “Swatch Ltd. and the Swatch Group Ltd. do not want to be associated with cruelty to animals.”

Companies are pledging to go fur-free after learning how millions of rabbits, minks, and other fur-bearing animals are subjected to horrible conditions in the name of fashion each year. Animals on fur farms spend their entire lives confined to cramped, filthy wire cages and often go without clean water and veterinary care. At the end of their miserable lives, these animals are killed using the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gassing, and poisoning.

Swatch, Rebecca Taylor, Nicole Miller, and Burton are now part of a growing group of compassionate companies that have adopted fur-free policies, including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Forever 21, J.Crew, Gap Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, and many others. Companies like these set the standard for fashion, and we’re proud they’ve made the compassionate choice to go fur-free!