UNIQLO becomes latest brand to ban alpaca wool following PETA exposé

Image: Sundry Photography / shutterstock.com and PETA

Mohsina Dodhiya17th July 20209th October 2020News

Japan-based fashion manufacturer UNIQLO has banned alpaca wool after viewing graphic footage released by PETA.

Following PETA’s “first-of-its-kind” undercover investigation exposing instances of animal abuse at an Alpaca wool farm, UNIQLO has banned the material from all of its 2,200 stores.

The footage was obtained from the world’s largest privately-owned alpaca wool producer located in Mallkini, Peru.

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In the video shared by PETA US, workers are seen slamming the animals onto tables, even the pregnant ones before roughly shearing them with electric clippers. The terrified animals are seen struggling and crying while some even vomit out of fear.

After removing the wool, the workers crudely stitch up the wounds without any pain-relieving medication and then toss the animals onto the concrete floor.

The graphic footage has inspired several retailers to ditch alpaca wool. Apart from UNIQLO, Gap Inc, which owns Banana Republic, Athleta, among other brands and H&M Group, which owns eight brands have cut ties with Michell Group, the parent company.

Overstock, Marks & Spencer, Maison Numen, Smith & Caughey’s, and Esprit have also pledged to ban alpaca wool completely.

“Uniqlo’s decision will go a long way in helping to prevent vulnerable alpacas from being abused and shorn bloody for their wool,” said Tracy Reiman, PETA’s Executive Vice President in a statement.

“Kind consumers can do their part to reject this cruelty. [Opt] for vegan clothing, which no animal had to suffer for.”

‘Second most environmentally damaging’

PETA in its stance against the use of alpaca wool adds that alpaca wool production not only causes grave suffering to the animals, it is also terrible for the planet.

The Higg Materials Sustainability Index ranks alpaca wool as the second most environmentally damaging material after silk, noting that it’s six times as harmful as polyester and more than four times as damaging as modal, viscose, rayon, lyocell, acrylic, and other vegan materials.

Response

In response to the investigation, the Michell Group said in a statement, the video has been clearly edited since shearing procedures on its farms were strictly governed by the National Technical Standard.

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The group added that it was committed to improving animal welfare standards and working for a healthier environment and had started investigations in order “to establish responsibilities and apply all the corresponding sanctions.”