Online fashion store Boohoo have just announced they will not use wool, this includes their partnered brands (Pretty Little Thing, BoohooMan and Nasty Gal).
In a statement, the e-tailer said that, “as of AW19/20, we will not knowingly source any wool products.”
The company’s move has been praised by PETA’s Director of Corporate Projects, Yvonne Taylor, who said “PETA is toasting boohoo group’s compassionate, business-savvy decision to scrap wool,”
She added: “Kind shoppers agree that no jumper or scarf is worth kicking, punching, and killing gentle sheep on the shearing floor, and we’re urging other retailers to follow boohoo’s forward-thinking example.”
PETA are now hoping that Forever 21 will be the next fashion brand to follow in Boohoo’s footsteps and impose a ban in selling wool products. In 2017, wool was ranked fourth place on its list of materials that have the worst impact on the environment due to the chemicals used to get rid of parasites on sheep polluting waterways. PETA has called on many fashion retailers to take a stand against the wool industry which claims it is abusive to sheep.
Boohoo are the first major fashion retailer to ban wool and many are praising them for their decision.
Earlier this year Boohoo was found to have sold a pompom jumper which used real fur, most likely rabbit fur. Boohoo said they had “robust” policies and procedures in place to ensure they did not sell real fur products. They added they had received the jumpers from a supplier who was aware of Boohoo’s commitment against the sale of real fur and had signed a supplier acknowledgement form to not supply products that contain real fur. Boohoo said it got its quality control team to inspect a proportion amount of its stock and said it contained faux fur. Real fur can sometimes be cheaper than artificial fur, as a result manufacturers have used fox, racoon or rabbit fur on items without accurately labelling them as real fur. The findings of the two brands selling items with real fur pushed the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) to issue an enforcement notice. It requires retailers to ensure they are not misleading consumers and provides some advice on how to go about examining products and supplying chains more closely.
