London Fashion Week has become the first major fashion event to ban collections created using exotic animal skins from 2025. As announced by David Leigh-Pemberton, Deputy Director-Policy and Engagement, British Fashion Council, henceforth, the event will feature designers producing collections made without animal skin-free materials.

This ban is a part of the broader initiative of the Institute of Positive Fashion, which focuses on enhancing sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental standards within the fashion industry. It aligns with London’s growing reputation as a hub for forward-thinking, ethical fashion. The move also aligns London with smaller yet influential fashion events like Melbourne and Copenhagen Fashion Weeks, which have similarly adopted bans.

The decision to ban exotic skins from their collections is a result of mounting pressure from animal rights groups, long advocating to end the use of animal-derived materials in its collections. Organisations like PETA have disrupting fashion events, urging designers to stop using animal skins, leather, and fur.

Praising BFC for its progressive stance, Yvonne Taylor, Vice President - Corporate Projects, PETA, notes, tens of thousands of supporters contacted the BFC to urge the ban. She also applauded the British designers who helped bring about this policy change, calling it a victory for animal rights and sustainable fashion.