Harry Potter Knitwear Firm Bans Cashmere Following PETA’s Investigation
Following discussions with PETA U.S., Lochaven of Scotland—a Scottish knitwear company and the original supplier of the Hogwarts uniforms worn in the Harry Potter movie series—has just banned cashmere from its Hogwarts merchandise and other products.
A recent PETA video investigation conducted on cashmere farms and in slaughterhouses in China and Mongolia—the two countries responsible for 90% of the world’s cashmere production—showed workers pinning down crying goats as their legs were bent and their hair was torn out with sharp metal combs.
In China, goats deemed no longer profitable were slaughtered after workers hit them on the head with a hammer in an attempt to stun them. And in Mongolia, workers dragged them by one leg onto the slaughterhouse floor before slitting their throats. Some animals were recorded moving for minutes afterward.
In addition to banning cashmere, Lochaven of Scotland is also offering several new items made with all-vegan, synthetic fibre and has reduced the wool content of certain popular items. Later this year, the company will also be launching a range made from 100% animal-free fibre with a popular Japanese brand.
While cashmere has the highest environmental impact of any animal-derived fibre, widely available vegan options – such as bamboo, Tencel, hemp, modal, viscose, organic cotton, and soya cashmere (which is a waste by-product of the production of soya foods) – are warm, stylish, and eco-friendly.
What You Can Do
China has no penalties for abusing animals on cashmere farms, and the situation in Mongolia appears to be much the same. The best way to help these goats is to refuse to support the cruel cashmere industry, by never buying anything made of cashmere. No matter where it comes from or what assurances companies give, cashmere is a product of cruelty to goats, which is rampant in the industry. And when they stop being profitable, the goats are slaughtered. Brands such as H&M and ASOS have already made the compassionate decision to ban cashmere.
Will you please help us urge Madewell to ban it, too?
