Rating the Racks: PETA and Pam Anderson Grade Shops on Vegan-Friendly Clothing

Stella McCartney and bebe Nab an ‘A’ for Fur-Free Policies and Vegan Leather Selections, While UGG Earns an ‘F’ for Its Sheepskin Boots

For Immediate Release:
June 14, 2016

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

When it comes to cruelty-free clothing, does your favorite store make the grade? For the first time, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear”—together with longtime animal advocate and fashion entrepreneur Pamela Anderson, has assessed the vegan-friendliness of dozens of major retailers and clothing brands across the U.S., assigning each one a letter grade based on its selection of vegan offerings, its policies on working with animal-derived materials, and its efforts to develop cruelty-free materials.

The results run the full gamut, from the “A+” awarded to Save the Duck—whose all-vegan, down-free, high-tech insulating coats can be found in upscale department stores across the country—to the “F” assigned to Michael Kors, where leather, fur, angora, sheepskin, and exotic skins still abound. The complete rankings are available on PETA’s website.

“If you’re still wearing animals, it’s time for a makeover,” says PETA Honorary Director Pamela Anderson, who can be seen modeling a vegan leather jacket by Zara on PETA’s homepage. “PETA’s ranking of vegan-friendly retailers can help you clean the skeletons out of your closet.”

Stella McCartney and bebe both earned “A” grades, thanks to their bans on angora wool, fur, and exotic skins and their wide selections of vegan leather shoes and vegan wool sweaters. “A-” retailers include H&M, Zara, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Ann Taylor.

The North Face—whose ThermoBall technology, which uses PrimaLoft synthetic fiber, is innovating insulation—earned a “B” grade, as did Free People, which banned fur and angora wool and also launched an exclusive vegan leather collection. Aldo and Journeys both earned a “C” for offering numerous leather-free shoes—if not in-store, then online—while J.Crew, which offers few vegan leather options, landed a “D-“. UGG and its sheepskin boots join Michael Kors and Burberry at the bottom of the list with an “F.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.