OP-ED
Proposed fur ban would be disastrous for New York
BY KAREN GIBERSON
A ban on any of fur
products is unacceptable.
The bill, which was just
introduced in late March,
is being inexplicably fast
tracked to the hearing stage,
which was scheduled for May
15.
This does not allow our
industry ample time to prepare
or accurately study the
implications of this decision.
We are baffled as to why
there is a sudden rush to pass
this legislation.
If government can pick and
choose to eliminate a specific
material, then what’s to stop
politicians from telling us
what else we can’t wear, eat
and create moving forward?
As the fashion capital of
the world, we must work with
textiles and fabrics that our
customers are demanding
today. Our industry has
embraced a variety of
materials, including vegan
leathers, faux furs and
other options that are being
developed every day.
That said, calf hair,
shearling and fur still play a
significant and sustainable
role in our designs – from
shoes, handbags, gloves and
hats, to trim and cuffs on
coats.
Fur is already a heavily
regulated industry, with
rules covering from
farming and trapping
standards to ethics to
labeling. The animal
byproducts are used
in a variety of other
products, from the
beauty industry
to compost and
fertilizers.
We encourage
all to learn more
about the process.
If you don’t like
these materials,
you don’t need to
use them, to manufacture
with them or buy them as a
consumer.
Photo via Getty Images
New York City is the hub of
retail, wholesale, trade shows
and commerce for many
fashion accessory companies.
The ban preventing any sale
of these products would cut
off one of designers’ largest
markets, negatively impacting
their livelihoods and those of
the suppliers and retail shops
they work with.
In all, a recent economic
study commissioned by the
International Fur Federation
Americas found the ban would
result in $850 million in lost
taxable business revenue and
cost New York City 7,500 jobs
in the first year alone.
According to a survey
we conducted this month
of accessory and outerwear
companies in Manhattan’s
Garment District, more
than 90 of the factories
there use these materials,
making items such as gloves,
handbags and outerwear. One
of them, Cockpit USA, makes
shearling coats for the United
States military.
Let’s be
realistic: If the
law passes and a
manufacturer can’t
sell in New York
City, the owner
has two choices:
close up the
business and fire
all employees or
lay off workers and
rent space in New
Jersey, Yonkers or
Nassau County to
ship the product.
Either way, once
again New York City loses
much-needed manufacturing
jobs – but this time it’s by its
own direct action.
Losing valuable bluecollar
jobs is not the only
unintended consequence
of this legislation. Council
members have championed
environmental issues. In this
case, they fail to recognize
the negative environmental
impacts of synthetic
materials.
Most fake furs are
petroleum-based and do not
biodegrade. One faux fur coat
is the equivalent of thousands
of plastic straws.
My biggest concern,
however, is that a fur ban
would be just the start.
Animal rights activists have
made no secret of the fact that
their eventual goal is to ban
the use of all animal products.
If the City Council succeeds
in banning fur today, they
will next take aim at leather,
feathers, wool and silk.
To wear fur, like any
consumer product, is a choice.
It’s one New Yorkers have been
making for hundreds of years
and a product that remains in
high demand today.
Karen Giberson is president
of the Accessories Council,
a trade group for accessory,
eyewear and footwear brands.
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