Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) department stores and subsidiaries will stop selling animal fur products by early 2021. Fur will no longer be sold in any Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s department stores or its off-price stores, including Macy’s Backstage and Bloomingdale’s The Outlet. The company will also close its 34 Fur Vaults and 22 Maximilian salons, which offer storage, repairs, and alteration of furs.
The new fur-free policy includes all Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s private brands, as well as items sold from brand partners. According to the announcement, the ban does not include fur that’s “a byproduct of domestic farming to feed our society,” per guidelines put out by the Fur Free Alliance. This includes “ethically sourced” sheepskin and cowhide. Faux fur products will also still be available for sale.
Jeff Gennette, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s Inc., said in a statement, “Over the past two years, we have been closely following consumer and brand trends, listening to our customers and researching alternatives to fur. Macy’s private brands are already fur free so expanding this practice across all Macy’s Inc. is the natural next step.”
The move appears to be part of a wider trend away from fur products. Many fashion houses, including Stella McCartney, Gucci, Michael Kors, Burberry, Armani, Versace, and Givenchy, have moved toward faux fur and vegan leather. Last week, California passed legislation that prohibits the sale and production of new fur items starting in 2023.
Kitty Block, the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S., said in a statement, “With so many designers, major cities, and now a state taking a stand against the sale of fur, we’re that much closer to ending this unnecessary and inhumane practice.”
