History of Our Fur Campaign

2006

• Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation issued a statement announcing its decision to go fur-free. “Fur has never been an integral part of our design strategy …,” said a Polo Ralph Lauren spokesperson. “We are publicly announcing this decision because the use of fur has been under review internally and we feel that the time is right to take this action.”
• In response to PETA’s letter urging gift retailer RedEnvelope to let bunnies keep their fur instead of turning them into earmuffs and gloves, RedEnvelope sent PETA a letter with the joyful news that it has decided to adopt a permanent fur-free policy “[d]ue to the cruelty inherent in the production of fur products …” Kudos to RedEnvelope for pushing the envelope of compassion!
• The Bombay Company knows faux is the way to go. After receiving PETA’s letter urging it to replace its rabbit-fur items with cruelty- and controversy-free faux fur, the company’s executive vice president and merchandise manager promised us that the only fur you’ll find in Bombay from now on will be the fake kind.

2005

• For 11 weeks, PETA’s supporters waged a vigorous campaign against retailer J.Crew, capturing headlines and attention throughout the nation, demanding that the chain stop selling fur clothing, fur trim, and fur accessories. This pressure, along with a tremendous outcry from J.Crew’s own customers, who were shocked to see that the retailer was supporting the violent and bloody fur industry, paid off on November 30, 2005, when J.Crew confirmed that it will no longer sell fur.
• After we learned that Olan Mills was using photo props made of rabbit fur in its portrait studios, we fired off a letter to CEO Robert McDowell, asking him to remove all fur and pledge to keep Olan Mills fur-free. On December 14, 2005, PETA received a reply from Olan Mills stating that the company would immediately remove fur from all its portrait studios and only use artificial fibers in the future.
• After PETA was alerted to fur-trimmed items for sale in Ann Taylor stores, we fired off a letter to the company explaining why fur is cruel and asking that it pledge not to sell fur in the future. In a wonderful victory for animals, Ann Taylor has decided to eliminate all its fur products by fall 2006, thanks to pressure from PETA. This national retailer of upscale women’s clothing has more than 740 stores in 45 states. Because of Ann Taylor’s compassionate decision, countless lives will be saved.
• In response to PETA’s letter explaining how minks, foxes, rabbits, and even cats and dogs are abused and killed on Chinese fur farms, catalog giant ABC Distributing agreed to remove the fur poncho it was selling from its Web site. Thanking PETA for shedding light on the cruelty of fur, the company’s vice president and general counsel wrote, “Your letter went a long way toward educating us as to the extant cruelty [to] animals, and our need to be more critical of the commercial abuses of animals.”
• After nearly eight months of campaigning, PETA received written assurance that Wet Seal will not carry fur during the fall 2005 season. As a result, PETA has called a moratorium on its Wet Seal Campaign until January 2006, when we’ll meet with the company to discuss a permanent fur-free policy.

2004

• PETA U.K. scored a major coup in the war against fur. Topshop, the U.K.'s most highly respected fashion chain-adored by the fashion media and public alike-debuted PETA's "All Our Fur Is Fake" decal, which appeared in the windows of all 280 Topshop stores nationwide.
  
• Leading youth-fashion retailer Forever 21 announced plans to permanently stop fur sales in its stores less than two weeks after the launch of a national boycott.
  
• American retail giant Abercrombie & Fitch joined PETA's Wool Campaign, setting a new standard for clothing companies by pledging not to use Australian wool in any of its garments until both mulesing and live exports stop.
  
• Anna Nicole Smith, invoking Marilyn Monroe, joined forces with PETA in an ad entitled, "Gentlemen Prefer Fur-Free Blondes." And Oscar Winner Charlize Theron appeared in PETA's "If You Wouldn't Wear Your Dog, Please Don't Wear Any Fur" ad campaign, which was launched in Hollywood.
  
• Hollywood's most stylish stars continued to speak out against fur, including Sarah Jessica Parker, who was quoted as saying that unlike her character on the TV show Sex and the City, she would never wear fur. Supermodel Gisele Bndchen, who used to pose in fur ads, was quoted in Vanity Fair as saying, "It was a bad decision on my part, because I don't wear fur."

• Longtime PETA supporter Pamela Anderson made headlines when she hosted the Lycra British Style Awards in several different outfits by animal-friendly designer Stella McCartney, after turning away dresses by pelt-pushing designers.
  
• To the click of international photojournalists' cameras, PETA members invaded several runways during fashion week in Milan, flashing large "No Fur" signs at the crowd.
  
• Reporters from magazines and newspapers including The New York Times and USA Today attended PETA's Skin-Free Fashion Show during New York's Fashion Week, featuring creations from Gaelyn & Cianfarani.
  
• Girlfriends star Persia White posed for PETA's shocking new print and video ads in which she holds the body of a skinned fox next to the tagline "Here's the rest of your fur coat."
  
• PETA illuminated fashion's dark side by creating ads depicting hideous images of Vogue's Anna Wintour and designer Donatella Versace. The ads, which show unflattering photos of the fur peddlers, carried the message, "Fur Is Worn by Beautiful Animals and Ugly People," and were unveiled during Fashion Week in Milan and New York
  
• PETA launched its new anti-wool campaign and corresponding Web site SaveTheSheep.com, steering consumers to skin- and fleece-free looks that don't kill.

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• Celebrities including Dominique Swain, Charlotte Ross, P!nk, Goran Visnjic, Christina Applegate, and European singer Sophie Ellis Bextor grabbed international media attention when they appeared in PETA's provocative anti-fur ads.
  
• PETA took the fur message into cyberspace with a video e-card showing graphic fur-farm footage and narrated by designer Stella McCartney.
  
• PETA persuaded a total of 40 companies, including Adidas-Salomon, Next, Reebok, and Nike to boycott leather from India until basic animal protection laws there are enforced.
  
• PETA activists in Paris stormed versace, Valentino and Gaultier catwalks with the message that "Fur Kills."
  
• PETA and Sally Struthers sent hundreds of donated furs to freezing refugees in Afghanistan.
  
• Designer Marc Bouwer unveiled his cruelty-free "Love Affair With Faux" collection during New York's Fashion Week at his Valentine's Day runway show sponsored by PETA.

• "Golden Girl" Rue McClanahan volunteered her services for PETA's 1-888-FUR-AWAY hotline just in time for the holiday season.
  
• PETA rejected its own anti-fur ad as too violent to air in the aftermath of September 11.
  
• PETA received its 10,000th fur coat donation.
  
• Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix trumpeted Spa's "no fur" policy in fashion week ad blitz.
  
• PETA executive director pelted fur-clad model with rubber "maggots" at fur designer Marc Jacobs' fall 2001 fashion show.
  
• Activists reminded attendees of the Michael Kors fall 2001 fashion show that "Fur on your back is blood on your hands."
  
• Lily Tomlin volunteered her services and "Ernestine," her sarcastic telephone operator, for PETA's 1-888-FUR-AWAY hotline and radio public service announcement.
  
• Launched "Anna Wintour's Viscera" at the Vogue editor's Moulin Rouge party. The vials of vile-smelling liquid, packaged as a Wintour fragrance, are PETA's latest response to the fashion maven's tireless promotion of fur.

• PETA led a successful campaign to persuade Gap Inc. to stop the sale of Indian leather.
  
• Pamela Anderson gave a big boost to PETA's Leather Campaign by narrating our video depicting the cruelty of the leather trade in India.
  
• PETA supporters Steven Seagal, Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, and Nina Hagan fasted in order to protest the cruel treatment of Indian cows killed for their skins.
  
• Liz Claiborne, J. Crew, Clark's, and Florsheim responded to PETA's Leather Campaign by stopping the sale of items made from Indian leather.
  
• PETA's "Shopping Guide to Nonleather Products" was published.
  SPA, a trendy New York nightclub, agreed to establish a "no fur" policy.
  
• The National Automobile Dealers Association dropped fur from its annual convention.

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• PETA published its first-ever anti-fur ad in Spanish.
  Supermodel Magali went undercover to videotape employees at fur salons as they lied to customers about the treatment of animals slaughtered for their fur.
  
• PETA's "Fur Trim Unattractive" ad campaign caused a stir, and generated a lot of publicity.
  
• Vogue's editor, Anna Wintour, was parodied in our "Without Fur, I'm Nothing" ad campaign.
  
• PETA members disrupted fur shows in New York City during fashion week. They interrupted Oscar de la Renta's runway show by jumping onto the catwalk and unfurling a "Fur Shame" banner, pied designer Michael Kors, and stopped a Randolph Duke fur show by throwing red paint on the runway.
  
• PETA donated fur coats to Nebraska Wildlife Rehabilitation to be used as bedding for rescued animals.

• We held our first fur-coat giveaway to the homeless in Atlantic City, N.J.
  
• PETA convinced Milan-based Christian Jacques modeling agency to declare itself "fur-free."
  
• Top designer Stella McCartney narrated PETA's fur-mill exposé, which was sent to designers.
  
• PETA coordinated a "Love In, Fur Out" demo in New York City's Times Square, which featured Q Models, including the Brewer twins and Vogue cover girl Magali.
  
• "If You Need Fur to Keep Warm, You've Got Problems"—so said our anti-fur ad (featuring Kathy Majimy) that ran in Detour and on taxi-tops in New York City.
  
• We placed "Would You Wear Your Dog?" billboards in Chicago, featuring donated artwork by renowned artist Judy Chicago.
  
• Baywatch and VIP beauty Pamela Anderson took it off for our "Give Fur the Cold Shoulder" ad.
  
• PETA activists burned fur coats outside the headquarters of Vogue magazine in New York City.
  
• Joan Rivers impersonator Frank Marino posed in an ad for PETA's "Fur Is a Drag" Campaign.
  
• Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City was the site of our fur funeral, which included coffins filled with fur coats.
  
• PETA's Morgue magazine cover lampooned Vogue and was published in Long Island's Suffolk Life.
  
• A PETA supporter lobbed a tofu "cream" pie at fur designer Oscar de la Renta.

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• PETA launched a successful letter-writing campaign to stop the sale of fur keychains at 7-Eleven.
  
• Directors Wolfgang Petersen, Oliver Stone, Richard Donner, Rob Reiner, and other filmmakers pledged to PETA that they'll keep real fur off movie sets and use faux fur when a script calls for fur.

• Activists, accompanied by rock star Nina Hagen, stormed Karl Lagerfeld's fur fashion show in New York.
  
• Top modeling agency Boss Models vowed to send its models to only fur-free assignments.
  
• At New York's trendy nightclub Tunnel, Boss model Marcus Schenkenberg unveiled PETA's plaque reading, "The Only Wildlife Here Is Human—No Fur Coats Allowed."
  
• PETA outfoxed furriers by placing an ad in The New Yorker offering a free video to perspective fur buyers, who, instead, received a heartbreaking video showing how fur coats are removed from their original (animal) owners. News articles about the hoax educated millions of readers.
  
• Our "Furassic Park" as by Baltimore Sun editorial caricaturist Kal Kallaugher parodied the few remaining public figures who embrace fur as "dinosaurs of fashion." The advertisement ran in New York magazine and in fashion articles across America and Europe.
  
• Thanks to intense pressure on the fur industry by PETA activists, numerous fur stores closed their doors for good.
  
• Mary Kay stopped offering fur coats as incentive awards for its sales force.

• Kim Basinger and Alex Baldwin rallied public support to end U.S. government subsidies for promoting mink coat sales overseas.
  
• Our undercover investigators videotaped the excruciatingly painful deaths of minks injected with weedkiller on a Maryland fur farm.
  
• A "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" poster featuring rock singer Melissa Etheridge grabbed headlines around the world.
  
• Actor Kathy Najimy and designer Todd Oldham appeared together in an ad to protest fur.
  
• PETA sued SAGA Furs of Scandinavia for circulating a libelous letter among fashion designers that claimed that PETA paid its spokesmodels and staged footage of animals caught in traps.
  
• Eddie Bauer stopped using fur trim after PETA's successful campaign.
  
• PETA convinced Claudia Schiffer and other top models to turn their back on fur.

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• An "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" poster featuring five supermodels appeared in buses throughout Norway during the Winter Olympics.
  
• An "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" event in Madrid garnered worldwide media attention.
  
• PETA occupied Calvin Klein's office in New York, which prompted a meeting between Klein and a PETA representative—less than a month later, the designer announced that he would no longer use fur.
  
• PETA organized an anti-fur event at a nightclub in Rome in which drag queens sported "bloody" fur coats in a campy anti-fur fashion show hosted by drag diva The "Lady" Bunny.
  
• Thanks to an extensive undercover investigation at a chinchilla fur mill in Indiana, PETA provided evidence that enabled the Crawford County prosecutor to charge the owners with cruelty to animals for killing chinchillas by electrocution.

• PETA hosted New York City's Fur-Free Friday. Dozens of floats and more than 1,200 marchers took the message that 'compassion is the fashion' to the streets of New York City.
  
• PETA succeeded in pressuring Brooks Brothers to stop selling mink earmuffs.
  
• A letter-writing campaign convinced Early Winters to end the sale of all fur items.

• Celebrities and trendy cross-dressers mocked fur in PETA's first-ever "Fur Is a Drag" anti-fur fashion show.
  
• Protests at the first international fur fair in Japan received worldwide media attention.
  
• PETA's campaign against Chadwick's of Boston resulted in the retailing giant's announcement that it would no longer sell items made of fur.
  
• An "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" billboard, featuring supermodel Christy Turlington, on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles generated a media frenzy.
  
• PETA organized a widely publicized protest at Bob Mackie's fur fashion show.
  
• Activists wearing "bloodied" fur coats protested in front of Vogue's office in Paris against the magazine's continual promotion of fur and refusal to accept anti-fur ads from PETA.
  
• Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host Robin Leach did not appear in a New York Times fur advertisement after PETA, prompted by an inside tip, designed a poster featuring Leach in afur coat with the caption, "Fur coats are worn by beautiful animals and ugly people."
  
• PETA stormed into and occupied the Vogue magazine offices in New York, along with B-52's singer Kate Pierson, to protest the magazine's continual promotion of fur.
  
• The late Linda McCartney donated fur coats to PETA and urged fur-wearers to do the same at a news conference.
  
• PETA teamed with German and Dutch activists for the first time to protest fur in Bonn and Amsterdam. The protestors wore only Santa hats and a banner reading, "We'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur."

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• PETA Launched its "We'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" Campaign with a poster and media events featuring the popular rock band, The Go-Go's.
  
• PETA's anti-fur efforts received worldwide publicity after members disrupted Oscar de la Renta's fur shows.

• PETA's successful campaign against Wheel of Fortune resulted in the popular television game show's banning of fur as prizes.
  
• At the annual meeting of American Express, attendees applauded as PETA members delivered hundreds of cut-up credit cards from former cardholders protesting the company's merchandising of fur coats.
  
• Tony La Russa, manager of the Oakland Athletics, led a demonstration at the Seattle Fur Exchange.

• PETA launched its "McDonald's of Fur" Campaign against the fur store chain Jindo and premiered the "Exporting Cruelty" video, narrated by actor Bea Arthur and exposing the horrific killing methods in fur farms. By 1992, all Jindo stores were shut down.
  
• PETA produces an anti-fur parody of the Blackglama advertisement called "What Disgraces a Legend Most?" PETA received the "Best Ads Produced by a Nonprofit" Award for its anti-fur advertising campaign in national fashion magazines.
  
• "The Animals' Tent" exhibit was opened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and reached hundreds of thousands of visitors with eye-opening details about the cruelty of fur.
  
• PETA members disrupted a speech by fur industry supporter Harold Burson of Burson-Marsteller at the Public Relations Society of America luncheon. An activist announced to the audience that Mr. Burson was the newest inductee into the "PR Hall of Shame."

• PETA's undercover investigation of a beaver fur farm in Montana resulted in its closure. More than 300 beavers were removed.
  
• PETA began collecting donated furs from former wearers for use in educational displays and demonstrations.

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