Posts with tag animal rights

Of all the bizarre works of sculpture that find their way into museums these days, where exactly does one draw the line between art and plain old weirdness? For the curators of the Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, the line is apparently drawn at pigs and their body art. According to the Telegraph, officials in Shanghai decided to ban Wim Delvoye's infamous tattooed pigs, some decorated to look like Louis Vuitton handbags, after a slew of complaints rained in from China's animal lovers.

Whatever opinions someone may have concerning the tireless animal rights organization PETA one thing is for certain, no one can ever say they don't try.

Outside Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week, a group called NYC Animal Rights has an objection to Zac Posen's usage of animal fur.

In a move that's sure to make anti-fur activists giddy, Britain's Ministry of Defence is currently searching for synthetic material to outfit those stonefaced iconic guards at Buckingham Palace. Today, the MoD is meeting with Peta representatives to find a reasonable substitute for those funky black bearskin hats. Yes, they're really made of Canadian black bear fur, and what's more -- it takes an entire bear to make just one hat. So, the MoD's switch to synthetic isn't purely symbolic.

Government officials have pondered the idea of finding a substitute before, but apparently they haven't like any of their options. Now Peta's bringing out the big guns. They've got anti-fur designers Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney working on the case.

Since these guards are one of the foremost icons of British military tradition, the standards are set understandably high. In other words, cheap rugs aren't going to cut it. If you're an aspiring headgear designer, the Telegraph is accepting submissions for an alternative helmet design.

[via Fashionista]

Groups like PETA like to give fur-wearing Hollywood types a hard time -- but rarely do they try to mess with people as powerful as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. That's right, an Italian animal rights group AIDAA is trying to tell the Pope what to wear. They say he should ditch the fur cape that Popes have been wearing for hundreds of years as a sign of "love and peace to give a strong signal towards the protection of animals and the environment through a small but very significant personal sacrifice."

The way we see it, the Pope has three options. One: ignore the fur people, making them extra annoyed -- but hey Pope's are here to make everyone happy. Two: get a fake fur cape. For some reason, it seems like that would compromise the Pope's historical credibility. Three: ditch the cape all together, a move that's hardly fitting for the world's number one religious super hero. This is a tough one.

Imagine you were the Pope -- what would you do?

[via Jezebel]

It's been a while since PETA came up with an idea hilarious enough to win us over, but this one has truly awesome/disgusting/ridiculous potential. It's centered around the fact that it's the Olsen twins' birthday this Friday -- the 13th -- and PETA wants the twins to receive some freaky gifts in the mail. Their idea: to have all fur-haters send them a birthday package containing some hair clippings and a note that says 'please, use my hair instead of the animals.'

Nicknamed the Trollsen Twins by PETA's Olsen-hating website -- Hairy Kate and Trashley -- the animal rights group apparently hates them because they use fur in the celebrity clothing line. We're OK with fur, but we think we might send some beard trimmings anyway -- just for a laugh. The sad thing about this gag is knowing that some poor intern will end up being the one to open all the disgusting hair packages.

[via Sassybella]

Once again, anti-fur coalition forces have decided to set their sights on the home of fashion empress Donna Karan. This time, a group called the Paint Panthers decided that it would be a good idea to spray paint some messages to the designer on the road leading up to her house in the Hamptons. One message read "Bunny Butcher" in hot pink scrawl with an arrow pointing towards DK's house. Another featured a carton bunny and the message "I don't want to be a handbag."

Most anyone who has seen Jenna Jameson, has seen Jenna Jameson -- if you know what I mean. That's probably why PETA didn't pick the ex-pornstar to pose nude for their "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign. Instead, Jameson was asked to do some sexy vintage pics à la Bettie Page for PETA's "Pleather Yourself" Campaign. The pictures will hit the interweb March 10th, in order to coincide with the start of LA Fashion Week.

It's certainly fitting that Jameson pays homage to one of the trailblazers of American erotica. Page was infamous for being featured in portraits with sado-masochistic and bondage themes, which obviously involved a leather whip or two. Jameson is taking the opportunity to salute the cruelty-free miracle of synthetic leather by showing how functional it is in an S&M setting:

"I've worn a lot of pleather in my life. Anybody who knows me knows that I've kind of lived half my life in it. I love the idea of having choices outside of leather. The outfit that I'm wearing in the ad is so sexy that I suggest if people want to have a better time in the bedroom - then please explore the pleather side."

The cameraman for the momentous shoot was none other than Gavin Bond, so the Jameson images should be nothing short of works of art. It feels weird putting "Jenna Jameson" and "work of art" in the same sentence, doesn't it? I say: pleather smeather, just give us the pictures already.

Stella McCartney, a long-time advocate for animal rights and a staunch opponent of fur in the fashion industry, is taking her cause to the virtual space. But the new anti-fur protest won't be an email campaign, or an online survey, or even a new website -- it will take place in real time, entirely within Second Life.

Starting on July 12th at 7pm, McCartney will launch a PETA island with the virtual world, and Second Life's millions of users will be invited for a week-long party, where they'll be able to buy virtual veggie burgers, listen to a "live" DJ, and hang out with simulated animals.

Guests who attend the protest will be encouraged to submit anti-fur messages -- similar to PETA's "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" mantra -- which will be displayed on the island for all to see. The best ideas will win Stella McCartney prizes, and all purchases made during the protest will support PETA, so if you're an Internet geek who loves animals and is into fashion -- this is your event!

If you're a fashion-forward person who's into animal rights, there's a lot to choose from.

The Internets have been abuzz the last couple days after photographs surfaced of Sienna Miller wearing sweatshirt that read "Club Sandwiches Not Seals." Fortunately for you -- that hoodie and other animal-cause gear is available at the Humane Society website.

PETA, another animal-rights organization, also has plenty of fun items to choose from, including this adorable shoulder bag adorned with a cartoon chicken that reads "I Am Not a Nugget." I also like their "Cut Class, Not Frogs," "Mean People Wear Fur," and "Compassion is Super Sexy" t-shirts.

Of course, if you're really into animal rights, you might consider donating to the cause instead of just buying the clothing. The Animal Protection Institute allows you adopt one of their 400 nonhuman primates -- "many of whom were rescued from abusive situations in laboratories, roadside zoos, and private possession."

So there you go. Now your clothes can make you look good, and feel good too.

[via Fashion Tribes]

After being named one of Hollywood's worst-dressed celebrities, actress Christina Ricci has been swarmed with angry letters and emails from her animal loving fans.

To save herself from fan mutiny, Ricci has publicly apologized for her fur indiscretions. In an email to PETA's Dan Mathews, Ricci said, "I never meant to hurt nor anger anyone with my insensitivity. For what it is worth, I have received the message loud and clear and will not be wearing fur in the future. I apologize for my offensive actions."

In response, PETA has removed the young actress from its list of worst-dressed actresses. The animal rights organization also sent her a gift package filled with cruelty-free goodies.

I have to admit, I'm kind of shocked by PETA's classy response to Ricci's apology. Nothing about PETA's flour pies and bags of blood says "forgive and forget," so who knows what spurred this amicable response.

Could the animal rights organization be going for a warmer, friendly approach? Perhaps, and if they are, I'd say bravo. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, after all. Hey, has anyone thought to not send Nicole Richie and Eva Longoria some cruelty-free schwag?

The use of fur is a particularly controversial issue in the fashion industry. As I mentioned in another post on Anna Wintour, editors and designers who are fur-friendly often become the object of the animal rights movement's fury. With blood bombs, spray paint and the occasional pie pan filled with flour to the face, the anti-fur front is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry.

But after today, the folks at PETA can't have a "beef" with British designer Vivienne Westwood. Westwood announced through the Humane Society that she would no longer be using animal furs in any of her clothing. Already known as a human rights activist, Westwood has consistently opposed the use of sweatshop labor and the practice of holding political prisoners.

If you saw the film, The Devil Wears Prada, you probably have a hard time mustering sympathy for Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Wintour, for whom the character of Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) was based, is known for her intimidating presence and her icy demeanor.

But not everything is so easy for poor Anna. For years, she has been the constant target of animal groups who oppose her use of fur in the fashion spreads on the pages of Vogue. To add to the antagonism with the animal rights movement, Wintour refuses to run advertisements paid for by anti-fur groups. As a result, she's been attacked so many times that she's "lost count." In Paris last year, she was hit by a bag of bloody matter, and later, outside the Dolce & Gabbana show, she was nailed with a pie pan full of flour. Still, through all of these assaults, Wintour remains staunchly committed to defending the use of fur in fashion. I guess this goes to show you that even in fashion, principle can be a costly thing.

It wouldn't be a fashion show without a little drama, and we've certainly gotten our fair share. First, Madrid bans BMI-lite models, Milan follows suit, and now, five anti-fur protesters from animal rights activist group PETA have stormed a Roberto Cavalli fashion show, with posters printed with "Cavalli = cruelty."

Because the fashion show was so flamboyant, it took some time for security guards to realize that the activists were not a part of the show. They eventually escorted the activists out. Activists from the organization also protested at the Burberry fashion show on Monday. However, PETA's vice president says that "Cavalli is our target because he has described himself as an animal-lover but he has about every animal out there in his collection."

There was no fur shown at Cavalli's fashion show, since it was for Spring 2007.