Thursday, August 20, 2009

SUCCESS!!!!

After trying for weeks and weeks to get some answers regarding the fur trim used on these boots (refresher: they were listed as ocelot but then the MB rep said they were rabbit), I saw yesterday that the Humane Society was also focusing their attention on the questionable fur used.



Well, finally there have been updates and progress! Per the AP:

Neiman Marcus: mistake led to 'ocelot' descriptor
(AP) – 14 hours ago

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus says an editing mistake led to some women's boots being described on Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman Web sites as trimmed with the fur of an endangered species.

Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder says the Dallas-based company is looking into the matter. The Humane Society of the U.S. on Wednesday said it was asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate.

The Humane Society says fur from an ocelot, a wild cat with tawny fur and black spots, would be illegal to sell under the Endangered Species Act.

Reeder says Neiman has pulled the boots off the market pending an investigation. She says it appears the trim actually is goat hide dyed with an ocelot print.

The Humane Society's Pierre Grzybowski says they still would like the FTC to investigate.

The FTC did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.

I am sooo happy to hear there is going to be an investigation into these boots. It proves that there are shady practices going on, especially in the fur industry. Basically, you can never be sure where and what kind of fur is being used, because even high-end products and retailers are not going to disclose that information. In this instance it may be goat skins but most of the time it's cats, dogs and rabbits. And because of how most products in the fashion world (even those labeled as Made in Italy or where ever - a whole other post... just read Deluxe) are made in China, if you are buying something with fur you are supporting horrific abuses.

Every year, millions of individual animals, including more than 2 million cats and hundreds of thousands of dogs, are killed for their fur in China. Some are strays, and countless others are companions who once shared homes with people who loved and cared for them before the animals were rounded up—often with metal tongs around their necks—and tossed, screaming, into a crate.

China is one of the world's largest fur suppliers, and more than 95 percent of the country's finished garments are exported—with many ending up in North America. And as we now know, Chinese companies have been known to deliberately mislabel cat and dog fur as "Asian jackal," "rabbit," or "raccoon" to fool consumers. Every fur-trimmed collar or other fur item from China, regardless of the kind of animal slaughtered to manufacture it, is the product of cruelty on a truly massive scale.

As I've said before. I detest fur. Plus, how can you ever wear something that came from sweet babies like my Tulip and Petal...



If you are buying fur you are taking animals like my baby Petal here and having them killed for something completely unnecessary and, in the case of these boots, ugly as hell.



Make contributions to the Humane Society, PETA, Compassion over Killing or World Society for the Protection of Animals to help stop these abuses.

13 comments:

Leia said...

I am completely against fur and I think that what you have done regarding the Blahniks is amazing. I can't wait for the day when fur will just be banned everywhere (as will things like alligator skin!)

Julie-Anie said...

I totally agree! It makes mi sick,thinking about it, but I actually belive that people care mornow than before, probably because they know more. It may seem as we're going towards a better world, and that makes me so happy!

It's great to hear about the investigation! You must be so proud!

K said...

I just want to thank you for bringing this issue to your readers and for being so passionate about it. I can tell you have a good heart.

And also, your goats are SOOOOOO cute!

Anonymous said...

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!! YOU ARE MY HERO! My son's girlfriend is an animal right's lawyer and is director of litigation for a wonderful organization, Farm Sanctuary. org I hope you will add this to your list of organizations to support. They are a wonderful group- very active and effective!

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID AND ALL YOU ARE DOING! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! FTW!!!
BrowneyedPea on twitter

Robin said...

Very very happy to see that this is being investigated, I was blown away that a major company would say that it had used an endangered species (to seem more expensive/exclusive? I have no idea).

Love the humane society, love your goats.

Emma Lilly said...

Ugh I have no doubt that animals are always abused like that for fur. I hate fur things. and seriously those are ugly.

kristophine said...

I'm glad you posted this. I had heard snippets, but not the whole story. I don't wear fur unless it's fake. All the fun, none of the harm. (I suppose you could make the argument that I'm still implicitly buying into the value of fur by wearing a representation of it, but I figure fake fur is a viable alternative.)

Hayley (ohhaylsno) said...

I've been following this issue and I'm glad you've been keeping us updated as well. I got the same response from the rep saying they were rabbit fur when I wrote them too. You are amazing!

TheShoeGirl said...

BLAAAAAAAH!!! Fur is the WORST!
Great post!!

eade said...

Glad to hear about the investigation finally. Now here's an "inflammatory" statement: Where is the line? I don't agree with fur or any of it; but folks, if you are even buying any leather shoes, then you may be supporting animal abuse. Also, if you are buying in Walmart and/or cheap Chinese goods, you continue to support that culture including their meat/fur trade. Where does this leave everyone? Buying cheap plastic shoes?

Poochie said...

M-L-E

I don't think it's inflammatory if it is done for real discussion. I am against fur because it is the absolute top of the scale with cruelty and unnecessary.

But once you eliminate leather that does not mean you have to go right for cheap plastic shoes. There are more and more alternatives from high end - Stella McCartneys, to Olsen House to Beyond Skin. There are tons of great fashionable options out there for shoes and purses, etc. These companies are making it easier than ever before to stop buying leather too.

Tracy said...

Ok, for starters I just want to say I LOVE your site. I do find it slightly hypocritical that you freaked out about the use of fur, take a stance on it, don't like the fact that it is goat skin, but are totally ok with buying leather shoes...which you have tons of.

Poochie said...

Tracy.

Thank you for stopping by and being a part of this discussion.

You are correct in stating that there could be an apparent disconnect with these issues. That said, I have always found fur, since I was 6 years old, to be the worst type of animal exploitation on many levels because of the excessive cruelty that is a part of the industry, especially as it is purely ornamental. I've despised it and campaigned against it since the first time I saw images of the seal hunts carried out each year. As I've learned more about this industry my stance has not changed.

But, I will say that leather is also bad and something that I am phasing out of my life. I have been looking at more vegan options, especially as there are tons of great new options available. Most of the shoes you see in my collection were bought before I changed my lifestyle just over a year ago and understood the issues. Many of them are over 5 or 10 years old.

I admit I am not a perfect person or vegan. I am continuing to learn and to evolve. Discussion and learning are key and ongoing, so I welcome everyone's thoughts and questions.