The Kooples bans fur from future collections following PETA campaign

London - French fashion retailer The Kooples has pledged to cut fur from all future collections following active campaigning from animal rights group PETA.

The decision to ban fur from all future collections follows on from the Kooples decision to ban all angora wool this February, after seeing the undercover expose from PETA concerning the systematic animal abuse occurring on angora rabbit farms in China. After meeting with PETA France and learning about the extreme farming conditions animals live and suffer in on European fur farms, the Kooples expanded it ban to include all animal fur.

"We are extremely concerned by animal suffering and … we've made the decision to stop the use of all fur in any future collections", said Nicolas Dreyfus, The Kooples Executive Director in a statement. "We had already made the choice to stop the use of angora in all our collections and in all countries, which was thanks to PETA's courage and wisdom in helping us understand the cruel treatment inflicted on animals of which we were not aware."

In addition to pledging to ban all fur from future collections, The Kooples also donated 10,000 euros to PETA France to help their cause against the fur trade.

The Kooples fur ban comes as nearly 60,000 members of the public contacted the fashion retailer with concerns of its use of fur. "Today's kind shoppers want nothing to do with an industry that confines animals to cramped cages, violently beats them, and tears their skin off", added PETA's Yvonne Taylor. "By banning fur from future collections, The Kooples has done the right thing for animals and consumers."

The Kooples now joins the likes of other high end retailers, such as Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood, in being 100 percent fur free.

Photos: Courtesy of PETA UK