French Actress and vocalist Jane Birkin has inquired Hermes to remove her name from essentially the advantage items maker’s popular luggage thanks to whatever she known as “spiteful” crocodile species cultivation and killing processes. It was designed especially for Birkin, a British actor and singer, after she complained she could not find a bag that was both elegant and practical.
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PETA’s latest move follows the animal rights group alleging cruelty at two of Hermès’ crocodile and alligator skin suppliers in Texas and Zimbabwe last month, and publishing what it alleged was undercover video footage of the farms. It’s under 7 minutes long, but it does a great job of painting a picture of the underbelly of the luxury fashion market.
As indicated by PETA, it takes three crocodile belly skins to make one handbag. Many die in great pain, hours after the operation meant to render them helpless.
“I have asked Hermès to un-baptise the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with worldwide norms can be put in place”, the 68-year-old Ms. Birkin said, quoted in the Wall Street Journal.
Hermes has responded in a very non-committal fashion, Vogue magazine reports. “Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for many years”, the statement reads.
An investigation is underway at the Texas farm which was implicated in the video.
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“Hermes respects and shares her [Jane Birkin’s] emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast”, it said in a statement.
