PETA Challenges LVMH to End Use of Fur and Exotic Skins at Annual Shareholder Meeting
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By PAGE Editor
As LVMH prepares for its annual shareholder meeting, PETA is demanding answers from CEO Bernard Arnault about the luxury conglomerate’s continued use of fur and exotic animal skins. The animal rights organization, which owns stock in LVMH, is calling on the parent company of Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Fendi to embrace cruelty-free alternatives.
"When will LVMH use truly creative, innovative, and harmless materials; stop supporting extreme cruelty; and end its dependence on the fur and wild-skins trade?" PETA asks in a pointed shareholder question submitted for the meeting. The organization highlights the gruesome realities behind exotic leather and fur production, citing undercover investigations that reveal extreme animal suffering.
"Every crocodile clutch or fur trinket is stitched with the misery of a thinking, feeling being who suffered a violent, agonizing death," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "PETA is calling on LVMH to stop peddling the skins and fur of tormented animals and switch to the luxurious vegan materials that today’s conscientious consumers want."
The Hidden Cruelty Behind Exotic Skins
PETA Asia investigation into LVMH’s supply chains have exposed horrific treatment of animals. In Indonesia, snakes used for luxury accessories were inflated with water, beaten with hammers, and sliced open while likely still conscious. Crocodiles, known for their strong maternal instincts, were found confined in filthy pits before being killed by having metal rods rammed down their spines. Similarly, ostriches were electrically stunned and slaughtered in front of their flockmates, while minks—animals that purr when happy—were gassed, electrocuted, or even skinned alive on fur farms.
LVMH Lags Behind Industry Shift
While many high-end fashion houses have moved away from fur and exotic skins, LVMH remains a holdout. Brands like Chanel, Balenciaga, Burberry, and Vivienne Westwood have banned exotic skins, and nearly all major luxury labels have eliminated fur. Yet LVMH subsidiaries, including Fendi and Louis Vuitton, continue to rely on outdated and cruel practices.
"Fendi and Dior have access to the most beautiful bio-based vegan furs, yet they still condemn minks, foxes, and other wild animals to lives of suffering," PETA states in its shareholder submission. "Berluti and Louis Vuitton could use stunning plant-based leathers, yet they choose to profit from the torture of snakes and crocodiles."
A Call for Ethical Leadership
PETA urges LVMH to align with modern ethical standards, emphasizing that today’s consumers increasingly reject animal cruelty in fashion. "Will you go to your grave being known for never having the slightest understanding, empathy, or respect for wildlife?" the organization challenges Arnault. "Despite all that people now know about the wonders of wildlife, LVMH is still cutting them up for bags—and the world will condemn us for that."
As pressure mounts, the question remains: Will LVMH evolve, or will it cling to outdated practices that alienate a growing base of ethically conscious shoppers?
For more information on PETA’s campaign, visit PETA.org.
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