It has been on the net a couple hours and it comes from a reliable source, that is an interview that Donatella Versace has just released to Luke Leitch on ‘1843’, the online lifestyle magazine of ‘The Economist’; it seems that even the Maison of the jellyfish will be added to the deluxe brands that have renounced the animal fur, the last in order of time Armani, Gucci and Michael Kors.
The interview, which traces above all the last 20 years of Versace’s private and professional life, since the death of her brother Gianni, talks mainly about changes and it is in this sense that the affirmation of the creative director of the brand falls on the refusal to use fur in her collections: “Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right” says Donatella to Leitch, who immediately expresses his disbelief because, at the time of writing, Versace’s own website was urging customers to consider “fur-embellished coats that turn heads”.
What we hope is that the words of Donatella Versace will be followed up with concrete facts, because the brand has been for years synonymous with the use of fur, including mink and rabbit, so as to be often the target of protests from animal rights activists including PETA, who in the past carried out various blitz and interruptions of fashion shows.
“Versace is a massively influential luxury brand that symbolises excess and glamour – said Claire Bass, executive director of HSI’s UK arm – and so its decision to stop using fur shows that compassionate fashion has never been more on trend”.
That Donatella Versace will no longer use real furs in her products because she really believes in it or just because many of her colleagues are doing it, it does not matter. We care that it’s true.
