Macy's is the largest U.S. retailer to make the move.
Topline: Macy’s will completely phase out the sale of animal fur from its stores by early 2021, making it the biggest U.S. retailer to ban the controversial product.
- Macy’s and its subsidiaries, including Bloomingdales, will stop selling animal fur and products made from it, joining other major department stores including Sears and JC Penney, as well as designers including Burberry, Gucci and Michael Kors.
- The move is a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States. Kitty Block, the organization’s CEO, said Macy’s decision is “consistent with the views of countless consumers in the marketplace, and other retailers should follow.”
- The Cincinnati-based department store chain announced that its Fur Vault, salons dedicated to selling and repairing fur coats and products, will also be shut down.
Crucial quote: Jeff Gennette, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc., said: “We are proud to partner with the Humane Society of the United States in our commitment to ending the sale of fur. We remain committed to providing great fashion and value to our customers, and we will continue to offer high-quality and fashionable faux fur alternatives.”
Key background: Macy’s is joining a trend of luxury and high street brands banning the sale of fur as increasingly eco-conscious shoppers make larger demands of retailers. But attempts to stop the practice are not new—major retailers have faced pressure from animal welfare groups to ban the sale of animal fur for decades, with PETA famously carrying out “fur-free Fridays” protests targeting Macy’s since the 1980s. “PETA members never gave up, and now we’re toasting the store’s decision to go fur-free,” the animal welfare campaign group said. But fur sales amounted to $30 billion annually in 2017, WWD reported, with the biggest markets in China, Russia, the U.S. and Europe.
The impact of Macy’s move will be wide-reaching—the department store operates across 43 states and 680 stores, as well as online. Last year, the company reported nearly $25 billion in sales.
Tangent: Earlier this month, California became the first state to ban the sale and production of new fur goods, from 2023 on.
