PETA targets Prada over use of animal skins

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is planning to raise attention for its platform at Italian fashion group Prada’s shareholders meeting on April 27.

The animal rights organization is criticizing the company for its use of ostrich, snake, alligator and crocodile skins. At the meeting, a PETA representative intends to confront Prada executives about the group’s treatment of animals.

PETA takes on Prada
Ahead of the meeting, PETA U.K. staged a protest outside of Prada’s store. A woman painted to look like a snake held a sign that read “Prada: Shed the Cruelty.”

"Prada knows full well that animals are hacked apart and skinned alive for its crocodile shoes and snakeskin handbags," said Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of PETA, in a statement. "PETA is calling on the company to stop profiting from animals' miserable lives and painful deaths by ending sales of exotic skins in favor of fabulous, innovative and luxurious vegan materials."

PETA staged a demonstration outside of Prada's store. Image credit: PETA

PETA has targeted a number of luxury labels over their use of animal skins and furs.

In opposition to its use of exotic leathers, PETA purchased stock in French luxury conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton last year.

PETA’s decision to buy stock in LVMH comes after it the animal rights organization released a film exposé on the cruelty inflicted on crocodiles to harvest their skins for leather goods such as handbags and footwear. Through its stake holding, PETA hopes that it can push LVMH to end exotic-skin sales from within the corporation (see story).

This is not the first time PETA has called out Prada. The group singled out Prada and France’s Hermès for the unethical treatment of ostriches in 2016.

Ostrich leather, an exotic skin known for its polka dot pattern where the bird’s feathers once grew, is commonly used by leather goods brands. PETA’s latest investigative report, posted to YouTube, shows the mistreatment of ostriches for the benefit of luxury brands (see story).

PETA has previously protested Prada. Image credit: PETA

At last year's Prada shareholders meeting, PETA staged a protest led by singer Daniela Martani, who wore an "ostrich corpse" dress. The activist organization has also demonstrated outside a number of Prada boutiques since its 2016 exposé.