Bodypainted Beauties Urge Shoppers to Give Animals a Break and Go Faux
For Immediate Release:
February 27, 2012
Contact:
Adam Miller 202-483-7382
Columbia, S.C. -- With their naked bodies painted to resemble foxes and holding signs that read, "Animals Are Not Ours to Wear," a pair of sexy PETA supporters will urge Columbia shoppers to scratch fur, leather, wool, and exotic skins off their shopping lists.
When: Tuesday, February 28, 12 noon
Where: In front of Ritter Furs, corner of Gervais and Bull streets, Columbia
"Shoppers can find faux fur, divinyl pleather, and lots of stylish alternatives to animal skins in just about every clothing store in the city," says sultry PETA "fox" Tracy Patton. "We're asking people to cross fur, leather, and other animal skins off their shopping lists and leave them the only place where they belong—on the backs of their original owners."
Animals who are killed for their fur are electrocuted, poisoned, or gassed or have their necks broken. Cows destined to be killed for their skin endure painful mutilations and physical abuse on factory farms and cruel treatment during transport and slaughter. Exotic animals fare no better. Snakes, for example, have hoses rammed into their mouths and are pumped full of water so that workers can more easily cut off their tightened skin while the animals are still alive.
As Tim Gunn says in the video exposé that he narrated for PETA, you can "make it work" without using real fur, leather, or other animal-derived textiles, and several designers and retailers are doing just that. Top clothing designers—including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Stella McCartney—refuse to use fur in their creations. And many companies—including H&M, Nike, Cole Haan, and Overstock.com—have implemented policies banning the sale of exotic skins.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.