PETA Protest the Use of Exotic Skins in Luxury Fashion at Paris Store
Key Takeaways:
PETA activist disrupts Hermès Rue de Sèvres boutique with a stink bomb.
The protest emphasizes PETA’s ongoing campaign against the use of exotic skins in fashion.
The incident in Paris follows similar protests in London and Mumbai.
In a bold move to highlight its campaign against the use of exotic skins, PETA recently staged a dramatic protest at Hermès’ boutique on Rue de Sèvres in Paris. An activist, donning a t-shirt emblazoned with “Hermès Stinks of Death” and wielding a sign against the use of exotic skins, released a stink bomb inside the store, causing a significant disruption. The protester was subsequently removed from the premises.
This recent protest is part of PETA’s broader effort to persuade Hermès to cease selling products made from exotic skins. The organization has been particularly vocal about Hermès’ iconic crocodile-skin Birkin bags, urging the luxury brand to adopt a policy against the use of such materials.
PETA’s activism has been widespread and consistent, with similar protests occurring at Hermès stores in other major cities. In London, demonstrators donned crocodile masks outside the New Bond Street store, while in Mumbai, a protestor dressed in an alligator-skin costume voiced opposition outside a local Hermès boutique.
The organization has accused Hermès of sourcing exotic skins from farms where animals are kept in inhumane conditions and subjected to brutal slaughter methods. PETA also highlights potential health risks, suggesting that the fashion industry’s use of animal skins could facilitate the spread of dangerous viruses to humans.
In the wake of these protests, PETA continues to call for luxury fashion houses, including Hermès, to follow the lead of other brands like Burberry, Chanel, and Stella McCartney, which have banned exotic skins from their collections. However, it’s noteworthy that few of these brands significantly utilized exotic skins in their offerings.
The incident in Paris marks another chapter in PETA’s ongoing campaign to challenge the fashion industry’s ethics and practices, specifically targeting the use of exotic animal skins. As the debate over animal rights and sustainable fashion continues, such actions highlight the growing consumer and activist demand for ethical and environmentally conscious choices in the luxury fashion sector.
