Hermès responds to Peta's exposé on its suppliers 'horror' alligator farms

London - Following a period silence after animal rights organization Peta US published its undercover exposé on the horrific conditions suffered by crocodiles and alligators in farms in Texas and Zimbabwe from which luxury label Hermès acquires its exotic skins from, the fashion brand has issued a statement to the New York Times in response to the allegations:

"Hermès has established a strong network of farm partners to secure its supply in the highest skin quality. All our skins used by Hermès are sourced from farms where Hermès demands the best farming conditions, which conform to the international regulations.

These farms respect the rules established by the Washington Convention (1972), which defines the parameters of the protection of specific species. These rules, established under the aegis of the U.N.O., were beneficial for the protection of crocodiles: These farms reintroduce into the wild a part of their farm breeding program, which therefore assists in regulating the local ecosystems.

Hermès is continuously verifying all procedures. Any nonconforming parties will be dealt with accordingly and will be sanctioned."

Peta US, who has receieved Hermès response to their undercover exposé, is not satisfied with their answer or lack of action. "The regulations that Hermès references provide reptiles with noprotection from cruel, shoddy slaughter, as evidenced by the irrefutable video that Peta took showing workers in Texas hacking into conscious animals with knives so that the company could strip them of their skin for "luxury" accessories," commented a spokesperson for Peta US to FashionUnited.

"If Hermès is serious about sanctioning cruel suppliers, it will take action against Lone Star and its manager, who was caught stabbing andcutting into the animals he dismissively referred to as "watchbands." And if Hermès genuinely cared about animals, it would stop selling exotic skins altogether."