3.1 Phillip Lim to go fur-free from autumn 2019

New York-based designer label 3.1 Phillip Lim is the latest fashion
brand to announce that it will be dropping fur from its collections from
autumn/winter 2019.

In a statement the designer has stated that he will ban fur and exotic
skins, such as fox, mink, lynx, chinchilla, astrakhan/karakul lamb and
exotic skins including python, alligator, crocodile and lizard, from the
labels ready-to-wear and accessory collections, effective immediately.

However, he added that the label will still continue to use leathers and
shearling that are understood to be a by-product of the meat trade.

The move is part of the label’s “journey to become more environmentally
conscious and sustainable”.

“The philosophy is simple – make less, mean more. Live with intention.
Champion community,” said Phillip Lim. “Acknowledge that we can’t change
the world overnight, but we can take small, pragmatic, purposeful steps
that ultimately add up. We can keep the human touch, the beauty and
artistry of irreplaceable craft, in everything we do. Balance is key –
recognising that we will always have a footprint but offsetting it with
small gestures that eventually amount to a grand shift.”

Lim added: “The decision to ban fur – from an ethical and environmental
perspective – speaks to our commitment to remain true to this ethos and
listen to our customers: environmentally conscious, global citizens who
shop with their values top of mind.”

The move was welcomed by the Humane Society of the United States, which
has been at the forefront in recent years lobbying designers to drop real
fur from their collections.

PJ Smith, director of fashion policy at the Humane Society of the United
States, said: “We applaud 3.1 Phillip Lim for banning the use of fur and
exotic skins in its collections. Today’s modern consumer aligns their
wardrobe with their values more than ever, and 3.1 Phillip Lim’s new animal
welfare policy taps into that growing consciousness. Added to this, the
brand is one of the first to commit to removing exotic skins from its
range, following Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg and St. John, making them a
leader in the growing movement towards a more humane fashion industry.”

3.1 Phillip Lim joins other big designer brands and retailers including
Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, Gucci, Michael Kors, Versace, Burberry, Donna
Karan, Coach, Chanel, Jean Paul Gautier, Jimmy Choo and Farfetch who have
all recently banned fur from their collections.

Image: via 3.1 Phillip Lim website