Target: Jeff Rudes, CEO of J Brand Jeans, and Efthimios Sotos, Executive Vice President of J Brand Jeans
Goal: Demand that J Brand eliminate fur from its apparel.
Despite repeated urgings from activist groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), J Brand Jeans refuses to stop using rabbit fur in its products. If J Brand will not respond to the requests of specialized groups, maybe it will respond to individual consumers. Sign the petition demanding that J Brand stop selling fur as soon as possible.
Animals whose hides eventually serve as fur trim are needlessly tortured and killed, all in the name of fashion. Farm-raised animals are confined to cramped, dirty cages and experience terribly inhumane conditions before being “bludgeoned, electrocuted, and sometimes even skinned alive.” Animals trapped in the wild do not fare much better; there is no telling how long an animal may remain in a trap before its death. When it is finally found, it is killed by a trapper who may stomp upon it, crush its chest, or beat it to death.
Current technology allows for many cruelty-free alternatives to fur that are equally fashionable–and more affordable. In fact, many retailers, including major outfitters like the Gap, the Limited, H&M, and Express, have already abandoned fur. However, J Brand refuses to change its pro-fur stance.
Urge J Brand to do the right thing. Sign the petition and demand that J Brand immediately stop selling fur.
Dear Mr. Rudes and Mr. Sotos,
According to your company website, J Brand is made up of “fashion leaders making a difference.” The site also proclaims that “passion drives our expansion, profit, and philanthropic commitment.” These all sound like attributes of a company that is conscious of its impact on both the fashion industry and the world at large. However, there is one major disparity between this image of a socially conscious company and reality: J Brand refuses to discontinue the sale of fur.
With modern technology, there are a myriad of alternatives to traditional fur. In fact, many other major clothing retailers, including the Gap, the Limited, Express, and H&M, have made a commitment to selling only fur-free items. So why is J Brand dragging its feet?
Animals raised for their fur suffer terrible living conditions and even more terrible deaths, often through beatings or electrocution. Some are even skinned alive. Animals trapped in the wild do not fare much better, as they may remain trapped for days before being killed. Like their factory-raised counterparts, they suffer immensely, and many are beaten or stomped to death.
J Brand has the power to set an example for others in the fashion industry and for those among its consumer base. Do the right thing and eliminate fur from J Brand’s product line.
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Anna Strumillo via Flickr