Oscar de la Renta denies use of elephant skins

American fashion house Oscar de la Renta has denied allegations the company has used elephant skins to make its accessories products.

The allegations came from PETA who on its website stated de la Renta used the hides from elephants, who are classified as an endangered species.

"This afternoon, PETA posted on its website a claim that Oscar de la Renta used elephant skin in our accessories products," a spokesman for De la Renta said late on Tuesday, according to WWD. "In fact, this is not true, as Gilt Groupe has acknowledged that this resulted from them incorrectly labelling one of our products as being made from 100 percent elephant skin. They have acknowledged the mistake and have moved to correct it across their site. Unfortunately, many of their users have seen this and understandably are outraged, as are we. We do not and will never use elephant skin in any of our products."

Although PETA have not yet responded to the comment or apologised for the apparent mistake, some speculated yesterday that the confusion may have arisen over the use of elaphe, a type of rat snake, by De la Renta - which PETA, as defenders of all animals used for fashion products, is as unlikely to approve of as the use of elephant skin.