London Fashion Week is the first to go completely fur-free

Burberry September 2016
Burberry September 2016
(Image credit: DANIELE OBERRAUCHD)

There has been a major change this season at London Fashion Week: for the first time ever, it will no longer show any fur on its catwalks.

This comes after major designers like Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Gucci decided to step away from using fur.

But according to a survey by the British Fashion Council, LFW is the first of the major fashion weeks to go completely fur free, as none of the designers showing has fur in their SS19 collections.

BFC chief executive Caroline Rush told The Guardian, this 'highlights a trend we have seen over the past few years, with more and more brands deciding to use alternative materials to fur'.

The statement continued, 'The BFC survey results reflect a cultural change based on ideals and choices made by designer businesses, international brands as well as consumer sentiment but also encouraged by the stance of multi-brand stores who are moving away from selling fur.'

This is part of the BFC's Positive Fashion initiative, which supports sustainability, equality and diversity in the industry.

The move was supported by organisations against animal cruelty, with Wendy Higgins, of the Humane Society International UK, saying, 'It sends out a clarion call of compassion to the other fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Milan to similarly take a bold ethical stance, and it challenges too those designers still using fur to re-examine their morals. Fur cruelty is no longer welcome on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.'

Over to the other fashion capitals.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.