Human society can be easily defined by our choice of clothing. Throughout time the social, political and economic climate is reflected by the garments produced by designers. Whether or not we try, everyone has a style: something that is recognisable to those around us, which can be enviable to some yet not others. This is the same for those who make ethical choices within the fashion industry. With world leaders meeting to discuss climate change and the rise of vegetarianism and veganism, it is no wonder that our ethical choices have changed over time to reflect the environmental consciousness that is engulfing the world into a paradox of health and environmental goodness.
Designer Stella McCartney, daughter of the renowned musician Paul McCartney and photographer Linda McCartney, is an avid animal rights activist. Following in the steps of her mother’s activism, McCartney refuses to use any animal products in her collections; a bold step in an industry that previously glorified the use of animal products to use as an expensive and lavish accessory. The price of using animal products goes far beyond the price of the label and this is something that designers like McCartney fight for.
Having also been outspoken about the use of Karakul lamb fur, McCartney describes it to be like “wearing a foetus”. The practice includes killing a lamb as a new-born or while still in the mothers’ womb. Not only is the new-born slaughtered but the mothers’ throat is sliced and abdomen cut open to get to the unborn lamb. Unnecessary killing like this has been at the forefront of ethical questioning in the fashion industry for many years and is a subject that is enormously disagreed upon.
Cruelty-free fashion has risen in popularity with many influencers advocating for the rights of animals. In the days when Lady Gaga first rose to fame she wore an extravagant dress with many Kermit the Frog’s attached at various angles, contradicting and bringing awareness to the cruelty of wearing fur. However, she has been seen to be contradictory on her morals when she was seen to be wearing a dress entirely made of meat. These acts bring the debate of animal cruelty to the media, emphasizing the importance of a single life on this earth.The unprecedented effects of the use of animal products in fashion is enormous. Even in the production of fabrics, the negative effects are shown to be catastrophic. Silk is a luxurious fabric, known for its expense and lustre. However, many forget that to produce this fabric in industry, the silkworm, alike any other domesticated insect goes through stages in the metamorphosis cycle, has its life taken before the pupal stage. They are often gassed or steamed alive in their cocoons.Using animal products can also become a debate that extends far beyond the UK and even the western world. Leading one to ask, is it possible to preserve the cultural rights of a country but take away their main resources? This is where the debate for the use of animal products in clothing becomes difficult. In the western world, it is clear that we are able to live without the use of animal products, but where fur or meat is a main resource for warmth and food, it surely cannot be possible to take away their reliance upon these materials. It seems like a cruel act to kill living creatures for the purpose of human reliance, however, the west produces processed meat which is far more dangerous compared to the way in which meat is consumed in other cultures.
The use of animal products in fashion is very much a moral question that is entirely personal. It is a subject that will forever be debated, especially since members of the fashion community will always wish to share their opinion with the public through their art. As a vegan, I believe that animal products should not be used, which is entirely my personal opinion. A life should not be wasted, whether human or not, we live as a collective on this earth.
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