Who Not to Wear: Urge These Companies to Stop Using Animals’ Skins in Clothes
If you’re a fan of New York Fashion Week, you probably know what not to wear—but do you know who not to wear? See how PETA is reminding big brands that a look can kill without killing anyone.
Charli XC Cow Encouraged the Fashion Industry to Moo-ve to Vegan Leather
Charli XC Cow, PETA’s sassy AI-powered robot calf, turned heads and stole hearts on the first day of New York Fashion Week outside the Starrett-Lehigh Building, a fashion hub. While Charli XC Cow wowed passersby with her descriptions of cow suffering in the leather industry—or celebratory dance moves when someone showed her their vegan accessories—PETA supporters handed dozens of leaflets to designers, models, and staff rushing in and out of the building.
After hearing from Charli, several designers told us that they would never use leather in any of their work!
PETA Stormed Coach’s New York Fashion Week Runway Show
With the words “Leather Kills” scrawled across her chest and “Turn Your Back on Leather” across her back, this PETA supporter stole the sidewalk stage outside of Coach’s show.
Inside, a PETA runway rebel was dragged from Coach’s show yelling “Coach kills! Leather kills!” to make sure attendees heard his message.
At slaughterhouses, workers sometimes skin and dismember cows for leather while they’re still conscious—after they’ve endured castration, tail-docking, and dehorning, often without any painkillers, on farms. A PETA exposé of the world’s largest leather processor—which has been linked to Coach—showed workers branding calves on the face, beating cows and bulls, and shocking them with electric prods.
We Showed Michael Kors That Going Vegan Is in Style
A disguised PETA supporter made a fashion statement as celebrities exited Michael Kors’ show, yelling “Michael Kors: Leather Kills!” as paparazzi snapped photos and took videos. The protestor continued to speak up for animals even as security snatched at the sign.
How You Can Help Animals During New York Fashion Week
In addition to the horrific cruelty it inflicts on animals, the leather industry also contributes to the climate catastrophe, land devastation, pollution, and water contamination. Sustainable vegan leather made from apples, cork, corn, grapes, mushrooms, paper, and pineapples creates the same leather look without harming animals or the environment.
YOU can help us push animal-friendly fashion during Fashion Week. Following pressure from PETA and our supporters, Coach and dozens of other brands have banned fur—now, it’s time for them to ditch leather made from the skins of tortured and slaughtered animals and embrace cruelty-free vegan leather. Take action below and let brands know you support animal-free fashion by flooding their comment sections on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) with polite comments.
