Use of Fur Is Banned from New York Fashion Week

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), the body responsible for organising the New York Fashion Week schedule, announced that animal fur will no longer be permitted at any official events. The rule will come into effect in September 2026 and is the result of a partnership with Humane World for Animals and Collective Fashion Justice. The move places New York among the fashion capitals that have already phased out the material. London abolished the use of fur in 2023 and, in 2024, also banned crocodile, snake and lizard leather. Paris and Milan have not yet introduced any formal restrictions.

The decision revives an ongoing debate in the fashion industry. Protests against the use of fur have interrupted runway shows for decades. Incidents involving Valentino, Coach Spring 2024, Dior Autumn Winter 2003, Victoria’s Secret 2002 and several other brands are now part of fashion week history. Under the new American rule, only fur is prohibited, while leather remains permitted. With no unified global regulation, the industry continues to operate amid conflicting organisational policies and opposing arguments.

The Debate

Brands that use these materials defend the practice by pointing to certified supply chains and the use of leather as a by-product of the meat industry. Organisations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) argue that the leather sector is as harmful to animals as the fur trade.

Environmental impact is another essential part of the discussion. Avoiding animal-derived materials does not eliminate impact. Synthetic alternatives such as faux leather are petroleum-based and non-biodegradable. Newer options, including recycled leather, vegetable-tanned leather and more advanced synthetic textiles, still present production challenges involving water consumption, emissions and waste, even when they are considered lower-impact solutions.

There is no perfect answer to this debate. Understanding each material’s full lifecycle and its consequences helps guide more responsible choices in fashion while also taking animal welfare into account. Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood continue to show that high-quality fashion can be created without fur or animal-derived leather.