On Tuesday Chanel announced it would no longer use exotic animal pelts, making it the first luxury fashion house to say no to crocodile and lizard skin, a move welcomed by animal rights groups.
Chanel’s head of fashion Bruno Pavlovsky said it “would no longer use exotic skins in our future creations”, explaining that it was becoming harder to source high-quality pelts ethically.
Handbags, coats and shoes made from snake, crocodile and stingray skin command premium prices, with Chanel handbags reportedly selling in excess of £8,000.
Animal rights groups welcomed the move, with PETA in particular hailing Chanel as being an example to other luxury brands.
Animal rights campaigns against the use of crocodile and snake skin products have not got the same traction with the public as similar crusades against fur, with some luxury brands even investing in reptile farms so they can guarantee that skins are sourced ethically.
