London Fashion Week Will Be Entirely Fur Free For The First Time

The British Fashion Council has confirmed that this forthcoming London Fashion Week will be entirely fur free.

Following a survey of all the designers who are showing their latest spring/summer 2018 collections in London later this month - with brands including Victoria Beckham, Burberry, Erdem and Christopher Kane - the BFC were able to confirm that no animal fur will be used in any of the on-schedule catwalk shows or presentations.

The survey forms part of the BFC's Positive Change initiative, which aims to celebrate best industry practice and encourage businesses to change for the better. The project is formed of three main pillars; sustainability; equality and diversity; and community and craftsmanship.

"The survey results reflect a cultural change based on ideals and choices made by designer businesses, international brands as well as consumer sentiment - but also encouraged by the stance of multi-brand stores who are moving away from selling fur," read a statement from the BFC.

The news follows Burberry's recent announcement that it will cease using animal fur in its collections, as well as stop the burning of unsold goods at the end of every season. The British fashion house made headlines earlier this year when it was revealed that it had destroyed £28.6 million of unsold clothes, bags and perfumes in a year and a total of almost £90 million in the past five years.

The company used this practice – which is fairly commonplace in the fashion industry – to help protect the brand image so that leftover items could not be sold at discount prices. Although the company defended its decision at the time, arguing that all the energy generated from burning the goods was captured, Burberry has now promised that it will reuse, repair, recycle or donate unsaleable products.

Victoria Beckham - who has previously pledged that her collections will never include even the tiniest bit of real fur - will be joining the London Fashion Week schedule for the first time this season, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of her brand.