Media release: Auckland Animal Action

Wednesday 19th October 2005

AAA to campaign against possum fur exhibitions at Fashion Week

Auckland Animal Action will campaign against the Fashion Week event at 12pm today. The protest will focus its attention on possum fur exhibitions inside the event, including Alpine Fur and Poss’m boots.

AAA had planned to campaign against Annah Stretton, however it is now understood that she does not source her possum fur from the use of the cruel leg-hold trap. Annah Stretton was quoted by the New Zealand Herald today as saying “Ironically, I fully support AAA’s call to ban the use of the leg hold iron traps in New Zealand…”

Spokesperson for AAA, Rochelle Rees says, “We are pleased that Annah Stretton understands our issue with the cruel trapping methods used by the fur industry, however we are still disappointed that as one of New Zealand’s top fashion designers, she is using fur at all.

“We believe many people will take their example from Annah Stretton, and will buy fur from a source without checking the production methods first. In any case, we are totally opposed to the promotion of any possum fur, as we believe it will lead to a demand for cheaper, factory-farmed fur.

“There is a huge demand for rabbit fur in New Zealand because they are seen as pests. Due to it being cheaper and more economically sustainable, most rabbit fur is now imported from cruel factory farms in China.”

Alpine Fur and Poss’m Boots are two companies exhibiting fur inside Fashion Week. AAA plans to draw attention to the cruelty and suffering that both these companies promote.

The protest will start at 12pm on today, at 135 Halsey Street in Auckland’s Viaduct.

ENDS

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