Country's First Fur Ban Goes Into Effect

Foxes, minks, lynxes, chinchillas, and
other furbearing animals have found an unofficial sanctuary in West Hollywood,
California. Just days after
the city banned exotic-animal
acts, it’s getting
ready to implement the
country’s first ban on the sale of fur this Saturday,
which means that swanky stores such as Balenciaga, Alberta Ferretti, and
Phillip Lim will have to clear fur from their shelves or face fines of up to
$800.

While the Fur Information Council of
America—which, in a delightful coincidence, is based in West Hollywood—is
unsurprisingly foaming at the mouth and threatening to sue, some retailers are
welcoming the change.

“We are on board with the ban as we understand
the concerns and have realized that there are many other fabrics and fibers
that can easily take the place of real fur,” David Malvaney, cofounder of
the upscale Church
Boutique, told Women’s Wear
Daily. “We feel that the desire for real fur will lessen over time as
more people become aware of the process to which the animals are subject, and I
believe more cities will adopt a similar ordinance.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Mr.
Malvaney.