Harvey Nichols Urged to Ban Sale of Toxic, Fur-Trimmed Children’s Clothing

For Immediate Release:

20 January 2016

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

HARVEY NICHOLS URGED TO BAN SALE OF TOXIC, FUR-TRIMMED CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

PETA Calls On Store to Reinstate No-Fur Policy After New Study Points to Carcinogens in Well-Known Designer Brands

Edinburgh, Scotland–  Following a newly released study documenting unsafe levels of potentially carcinogenic chemicals in fur-trimmed children’s clothing sold by several brands, including Canada Goose and Woolrich, PETA has rushed a letter to Stacey Cartwright, Chief Executive of Harvey Nichols, urging her to remove all fur items from sale and reinstate the department store’s no-fur policy.

The shocking results from the Bremer Umwelt Institute in Germany revealed that the raccoon dog and coyote fur contained large amounts of toxic substances, particularly formaldehyde, which causes allergic reactions and is considered a carcinogen, and ethoxylates, which are known to be disruptive to hormone production and reproductive organs. PETA’s letter points out that there is nothing “natural” about fur, which must be treated with a toxic cocktail of hazardous chemicals to stop it from decomposing and which pose a very real threat to the health of all who wear fur.

“Because the fur trim on the jackets comes into direct contact with the face and because children are far more sensitive to harmful chemicals than adults are, it is deeply concerning that these chemicals may be absorbed into the bloodstream of a child’s still-developing body”, writes Yvonne Taylor, PETA Senior Manager of Corporate Projects . “Whilst the horrific trapping, gassing, poisoning, drowning and electrocution of animals for their pelts evidently leaves you unmoved, we hope that as the Managing Director of Harvey Nichols – and as a mother – you will not be so nonchalant about protecting the health of your customers, particularly the youngest and most vulnerable.”

PETA has already exposed Harvey Nichols – which reneged on its decade-long no-fur policy in 2014 – for citing the misleading “Origin Assured” labelling scheme to customers who enquire about the welfare of the animals used for the furs on sale in its stores. You can see for yourself in this video, courtesy of PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear” – what life is like for animals on fur farms in Europe and around the globe, including countries that claim to have high welfare standards.

To view the full letter please click here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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