Ban Exotic Animal Skins on the Runway? Ridiculous! Say Conservation Experts. Mother Jones [Video]

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This story was originally published by Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Conservation experts have criticized a decision by London fashion week to ban exotic animal skins from its 2025 shows as “ridiculous,” warning that it is ill-informed and could harm the protection of many snakes, crocodiles, and reptile species.

Last month, the British Fashion Council’s deputy director for policy and engagement, David Leigh-Pemberton, told parliament that next year’s fashion shows would prohibit the use of skins from alligators, snakes, and other animals. In a statement, the council said the ban was part of a wider range of standards to promote sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

But scientific experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one of the world’s leading conservation bodies, have condemned the decision, saying exotic skins …