PETA Deals a Blow to the Indian Leather Business

October 2002

PETA convinced about 40 companies, including Adidas-Salamon, Kenneth Cole, Gucci, Gap Inc., Nike, and Reebok, to refuse to use Indian leather in their products after our investigators uncovered horrific abuses during the illegal transport of cows to slaughter.

After viewing the footage, the CEO of Florsheim said, “We found the treatment of animals, as documented by PETA, to be totally unacceptable and not in keeping with the image or standards of our company.”

Gap Inc. made its decision after facing PETA demonstrations and consumer boycotts. Companies that were initially reluctant to join the boycott were convinced by hundreds of letters from consumers who were outraged about the treatment of animals for their skins. PETA also helped to start a pilot project with the Indian Council for Leather Exports to reform a market, transport, and slaughter unit in Tamil Nadu state.

Watch undercover video of India’s leather trade.