Fear-free fashion is the future

Experts send a warning shot to the industry

Press release: Thursday, 25 October 2012

Global fashion giant ASOS has scooped one of the most prestigious animal welfare accolades - the RSPCA’s Good Business Award for Innovation; proving that no matter how large an organisation, animal welfare can be at the heart of successful business.

Despite the online fashion and beauty retailer offering over 50,000 branded and own label products, ASOS is leading the way in developing and implementing an impressive animal welfare policy that covers wool, angora, cashmere, feathers and down; animal testing, as well as endangered species, fur, leather and exotic skins.

The company also has robust employee training programmes and has published its own ‘faux from real’ fur guide to help buyers, suppliers and customers identify fake from real fur.

 

Find out more about the RSPCA Good Business Awards.

Visit the ASOS website.


Ethically active shoppers demand more

“This proves the industry has run out of excuses,” said fashion designer Wayne Hemmingway. “If a company as large as ASOS can bring so many labels and lines together under one ethical sourcing policy then there is no defence for others.”

“These days many customers make their decisions based on a company’s ethical credentials, and will actively avoid goods they think will have a negative effect on animals, or people. The fashion industry must up its game now, if it wants to remain relevant and profitable to a new generation of clued-up, ethically active shoppers,” he added.

Compassionate couture

Other fashion companies already going the extra mile for animal welfare were rewarded for their efforts at the RSPCA Good Business Awards last night (October 24).

High street favourite George at Asda was presented with the large company award, while Izzy Lane scooped the small company award for producing desirable, ethical high fashion at an achievable price. Eco-fashion company Rapanui were highly commended in this category.

The winners were revealed and awards presented at the RSPCA Good Business Awards evening ceremony at One Marylebone, London.

Notes to editors:

Interviews with RSPCA staff are available. Please contact the press office on 0300 123 0244 or email press@rspca.org.uk

Judges for the fashion category are Lisa Armstrong, fashion editor of Daily Telegraph, Wayne Hemingway, designer and co founder of Red Or Dead and Shelly Vella, fashion director of Cosmopolitan magazine.

The RSPCA will only accept applications from companies that:

Do not use fur
Do not use Karakul lambskin pelts
Do not use exotic skins
Have a policy on sourcing merino wool.

Winners will be promoted on the RSPCA Good Business Awards website and achievements will be detailed in a consumer guide to choosing higher welfare companies.

For more information about the awards, please visit www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com

To find out more about ethical food and fashion, go to www.goodthings.org.uk