News & Comment
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Gucci turns Fur-Free: Going green or avoiding a fashion faux-pas?
How many thoughts can you spare for Somalia?
By Alexandra Brosens-Doy
By Tito Mogaji-Williams
The world in 2017 is unfortunately no stranger to
Wegmann
Gucci, the Italian fashion powerhouse, has announced that it will
go fur-free in 2018 and that all of the remaining animal fur items will be auctioned off, according to president and CEO Marco Bizzarri. This comes following the same decision taken by Armani, another Italian fashion powerhouse. Although fur has been at the centre of a long standing debate, recent years have demonstrated stronger support against the use of fur in the fashion industry. Having said this, and despite protests by animal welfare charities such as PETA, the chief executive of the International Fur Federation, Mark Oaten, said that he was “expecting a cracking week in London” and that he would be “disappointed if he didn’t [sic] see fur on at least 80% of the catwalks.” Despite the fact that the basic response to such a move, which would have been branded as bold 20 years ago, is that it is something that everyone should and does support, one may also argue that it is still pure economic rationality from Gucci. Times are changing as consumer trends have shown a decline in the demand of fur products. Fur is associated with the social status that millennial fashion trends are keen to disturb and reject. For example, despite the rise in popularity over the last 10 years of Canada Goose jackets, the company is facing huge backlash after the methods in which the fur trim and real goose down lining were sourced were uncovered. Equally, rather than a charitable and progressive decision, Gucci’s CEO’s decision could be seen as only a response to demand. Moreover, this is yet another example of how ‘vegan’ ideas are trickling down into many aspects of society. Morals and ideas are changing. Although vegans may once have been branded as free loving hippies living in communities wearing all-hemp clothing, the reality today is very different as the ‘everyday’ consumer has become more educated and compassionate about their lifestyle habits. Inconsistencies in these behaviours are obvious: veganism and organic food may be a thing, but it is doubtful whether certain people would be willing to forsake their jet setting lifestyles in order to reduce air pollution, for example. This being said, whatever criticism there may be against consumption behaviours, one must admit that the positive effects of going furfree are undeniable. Uniqlo heattech jackets can keep us warm for now.
terrorism, war, disease, violence, or natural disasters. But few places on Earth endure these threats simultaneously and with such devastating implications as Somalia. While terrorism and violence are a fear everywhere, and infrequent attacks in Europe and America have made us scared for our lives and that of those we love; Somalia was devastated by an atrocity unparalleled in its history. The 15th of October is a day burnt and blackened for time immemorial and yet, far from dominating our headlines with pertinent questions as to the intent of the attackers or the details and implications of such an enormous catastrophe, we are met with radio silence. Just as in nearby Yemen, where British supplied bombs are being used indiscriminately, our media refuses to prioritise the lives of those victims whose skin holds the wrong tone. The deaths of white people matter more perhaps. And it is for this reason that the coverage of the impact of Hurricane Harvey and Irma felt so distorted alongside an earthquake that killed at least 300 in Mexico and the complete devastation of the Caribbean islands that left several more-or-less uninhabitable. Just as the deaths in the horrific Las Vegas shooting may be roughly ten times less than the black bodies killed in Mogadishu but will receive infinitely more coverage. Journalism is a place of double standards. It is a sphsere where a country in Africa, Asia, or Latin America can achieve so much and elect their 9th President in a successful election but only achieve a blip of western recognition in their darkest moment. And far from even warranting a #NeverForget or a #JeSuisCharlie online, all Somalia has received is “thoughts and prayers” from politicians and celebrities that cannot spell Mogadishu.
17th September 2017
Gareth Jennings
November 2017
