Whenever parts of an animal are used in the fashion industry, corners are cut, and abuse is commonplace - Yvonne Taylor

Despite an overwhelming number of fashionistas saying they would never dream of wearing real fur, because of the cruelty inflicted on the animal, many still don a feather. Why is the cruelty inflicted on the birds of the feather not considered as unacceptable? Simple fact is, people still don’t realize how feathers are sourced.

In a 2018 article by The Guardian, it proclaimed shoppers are unaware of the curtly inherent in the feather industries. This is concerning when PETA claims 80% of the workers in the Chinese feather and down industry forcibly restrain live geese, and rip their feathers out as they struggle and scream.

Many fashion houses deny their feathers are sourced this way. However, gathering feathers from farmed birds naturally dropping their feathers during their seasonal molt seems very unrealistic, costly, and impractical. As someone who owns geese (FYI the goose in these images is my special boy Gessie) believe me when I say, they don’t molt all that much, so I am calling BULLSHIT on these claims of ethically sourced goose feathers. Additionally, goose meat isn’t an overly popular meat in many countries. Yes, some countries consume goose meat,
but the amount of goose meat processed would fail to produce enough feathers as a
by-product to supply fashion houses, or fillings for duvets and pillows. This too goes for emu, ostrich and peacock ….Chicken and duck feathers however, I can see how these are easily accessible due to the amount of duck and chicken meat consumed worldwide. Why then can’t fashion houses try to find a somewhat ethical leg to stand on and simply stick to what can be sourced cruelty free? Truth is, the duck and chicken feathers don’t have the same ‘look of luxury’ as an ostrich feather or the warmth goose down provides those elaborate puffy jackets….  

Since the 1980’s activists have been trying to highlight the negative impact of using feathers. Despite this, they continue to decorate runways or fill luxury pillows and duvets. Even the humble feather duster has taken to steal the life of an animal for a human’s convenience.

Despite some labels donning the “ethically sourced fathers” banner, there is no way to ensure the feathers are cruelty free. There is no method of tracking if the geese, turkeys, chickens, emus, or ostriches suffered for them.

As I write this blog, I find it hard to find anything after 2018 that brings attention to the feather industry or if there have been improvements. I can however find multiple articles highlighting how feathers are 2022’s most fashionable accessory…. How can consumers move away from the use of feathers when large named fashion designers continue to make comments like:

"Feathers have always been synonymous with luxury and grandeur. A feathered, shimmery outfit instantly transports you to a fantasy world,"

– Shane Peacock

Sure, this may be the case, because the fashion world has made it so…… but are there not alternatives? To put it simply, YES!   Milliner Stephen Jones for      example uses animal feathers   for his hat     creations, but   also  works with artificial   materials such as plastic and   tulle. Other   alternatives   include microfiber, polyester   and memory foam. Bird The   Label is using materials to give   the effect of feathers or   embraided trims that add the   desired feature in a much   more  sophisticated and   creative way.

 Like everything in the world of   fashion, consumers need to be   aware of the consequences   fashion luxuries leave in their   wake. Stop being distracted by   the glitz and glamour, or what   the fashion industry says is a   "must have". The only way the   fashion industry is going to   move forward, challenge its way of thinking and start designing ‘luxury’ items without sacrificing the life of an animal or the environment, is by the consumer being aware of what they are buying, how it was sourced and what the impact was from it. It’s also only the consumer that can decide if that glamours feather trimmed gown, they will most likely only wear once, was worth the ongoing torture to the animal that provided it…..Please, let yourself be one of those people that stops buying feather products, or if you do, make sure you wear it so much, it was worth the animals pain....if that is possible....

Yours in fashion,        

KC

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