Victory! Gap Phases Out Mulesed Wool
Retailers around the world are finding alternatives to mulesed wool, and we’re thrilled to announce that Gap Inc. is the latest mega-vendor to take a stand against the mutilation.
Last year, the clothing giant sent us a letter stating its opposition to the mulesing mutilation and pledging to monitor the Australian wool industry’s promise to end mulesing by 2010. Since then, we’ve been in constant contact with representatives of Gap Inc., and after we let them know that the Australian wool industry reneged on its vow, the company released this statement:
Gap Inc. does not condone mulesing and is committed to sourcing all of our merino wool from farms that have ended the practice. We have already begun to phase out the purchase of wool from lambs that have been mulesed by clips or shears. We will continue to work with the wool industry, other brands, and external stakeholders to ensure ongoing progress and an adequate supply of wool that meets our needs and expectations.
Millions of sheep in Australia continue to endure the torment of having hunks of flesh hacked off their backsides or to suffer through the equally painful process of clip mulesing, in which clips are attached to the skin on lambs’ backsides, causing the skin to rot and fall off. Take a moment to urge Talbots—which has failed to take any meaningful action against the Australian wool industry—to follow in Gap Inc.’s compassionate footsteps.
Written by Logan Scherer
