RETAIL chiefs have slammed a decision by famous US store Macy’s to stop selling fur, claiming it will lead to more animal suffering.
Bosses at the Fur Information Council said the ban by the retail giant could create a black market for animal fur.
Keith Kaplan of the Council also said the ban was part of a “radical vegan agenda using fur as the first step to other bans on what we wear and eat”.
He said fake fur was not a renewable or sustainable option.
The US retailer is one of a growing number of brands, cities and states turning away from the use of products made with animal fur.
Prada, Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Burberry have already dropped real fur.
While Macy’s is not the first US department store to end fur sales – JCPenney and Sears have already done so – the move is significant because of the company’s enormous size and reach.
With sales of more than $24bn in 2018, and hundreds of stores in nearly every state, the decision will make the company the largest US retailer so far to adopt a ban.
Plans are to phase out real fur by the end of the 2020 financial year.
Macy’s chairman and chief executive officer, Jeff Gennette, said in a statement that over the past two years the company has been following consumer brand trends, listening to customers and non-governmental groups such as the Humane Society of the United States.
He said: “We are proud to partner with the Humane Society of the United States in our commitment to ending the sale of fur.
“We remain committed to providing great fashion and value to our customers, and we will continue to offer high-quality and fashionable faux fur alternatives.”
Macy’s has about 680 department stores in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. It has about 190 specialty stores that include Bloomingdale’s the Outlet, Bluemercury and Macy’s Backstage.
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