Hers has been a quiet, persistent sort of activism, noteworthy for making non-leather shoes and handbags as covetable as genuine leather accessories from other designers (if not more sosee our S/S '12 Accessories Report).
Now, the designer is getting vocal about her anti-leather leanings. McCartney has teamed up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to produce a short film addressing why she doesnt use animal skins in fashion.
Our aim is not to tell you what to wear, but to give you the facts so you can make informed decisions next time youre considering buying leather, she says.
The film features McCartney facing the camera and explaining the issues. Then it moves on to footage of leather production techniques. Millions of animals die for the sake of fashion every year, McCartney describesthen shows us what she means. (You can watch the film here, but beware... its really quite graphic.)
PETA has big plans for the video. A campaigns executive with the charity told the New York Times that he had hoped to screen a shorter cut in Taxi TV during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Apparently the taxi video company preferred to use the medium for consumer pitches, though we imagine they may have balked at screening the footage to a captive audience.
By the time McCartney says, As a designer I like to work with fabrics that dont bleed. Thats why I avoid all animal skins, chances are good that youll be on board with her animal-friendly agenda.
What do you think: does this film make you feel differently about leather?
