Controversy For A Cause
People of New York City have reason to celebrate. Coming off the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI win on Sunday, they can now turn their attention to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2012 The fashion event of the season kicks off on Thursday, February 9, and by its conclusion, designers, models, and magazine editors will be overwhelmed with relief and too much caffeine.
But another obstacle presents itself this year. Today, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (more commonly referred to as “PETA”) released a new video on “animal suffering in the leather industry and the risks to human health and the environment from tanneries,” New York Times “On the Runway” blogger Cathy Horyn writes. Like most of its [celebrity-supported PSAs , the video is narrated by designer Stella McCartney. McCartney first spoke out against animal cruelty in a PETA video during the 1990s. Today, she has emerged as a high-fashion label that does not support the use of leather. McCartney also has her own collection with athletic brand Adidas and a limited edition perfume line.
PETA has been known to push the boundaries of its campaigns against animal cruelty. From its “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” ads featuring celebrities such as Khloé Kardashian and Elisabetta Canalis to heart-warming and heart-breaking videos, PETA’s mission has always been heard. Remember the Sex and the City movie?
Horyn reports that this year, PETA will play a shortened version of McCartney’s latest message in taxi cabs during Fashion Week (a less invasive tactic compared to that mentioned above.) But don’t let this seemingly peaceful strategy fool you; it’ll be the source of some great tension under the white tents of Fashion Week.
