The heart of the American fashion and design business, Los Angeles, is setting a new trend. The production and sales of fur clothing and accessories are going to be forbidden. The latest events show the increased interest of the fashion world in defending and promoting animal rights. The city of Los Angeles aims to incept a new movement taking a decisive step toward the change of the direction in fashion flow.
On Sep 18, the Los Angeles City Council conducted the voting for the official forbiddance of the fur products’ manufacturing in the city. The reason for such a decision was the intention to preserve animal rights and promote animal protection around the world. Before accomplishing the results of the voting, they are to be processed by the council and approved by the Mayor, Eric Garcetti.
The anticipated nation-wide tendency to ban fur was initiated by some major fashion centers, such as San Francisco and West Hollywood. Now, when the largest metropolises and fashion industry centers of the USA have introduced their intention to refuse from the usage of animal products in the sphere, an approving reaction is expected. According to New York Post, the Los Angeles ban of such kind of manufacture would encourage the authorities of other cities in the US, as well as in different countries of the world, to take similar action. During the meeting with the press, the Councilman, Paul Koretz, expressed his hope that “New York City and Chicago and Miami are all watching” (“Los Angeles Is on Its Way to Banning the Sale of Animal Fur”). Other cities’ attention to the raised problem would help promote fur ban around the globe.
However, the scope of the effect of the products of animal origin seems to be slightly exaggerated. The number of manufacturers and shops that work with fur is comparatively inconsiderable. As Keith Kaplan, the specialist in the fur industry, states, there are only a few stores that sell fur in Los Angeles (“Los Angeles Is on Its Way to Banning the Sale of Animal Fur”). Then why is there such a rush in the immediate elimination of the production? The answer to this question is in profit amounts and the existing demand.
Interestingly, financial indicators of the profit makers in the industry show the overall need for the municipal and even governmental intrusion with the aim of fur banning. According to the data retrieved by California economic analysts, fur products sales “totaled $360 million in 2012” (“Los Angeles Is on Its Way to Banning the Sale of Animal Fur”). Such numbers determine the overall popularity of such a kind of products among the population of Los Angeles.
According to the economic pattern, the demand generates the supply. Contrary to the anticipated tendency related to the animal rights protection, fur is popular with the consumers. As stated by Keith Kaplan, the industry would not propose such production unless there was no interest from the customers’ side. Now that the ban voting was conducted, the situation is going to change significantly.
Upon the completion of the voting results processing, the implementation of the fur ban is expected to come in force in January next year. The new regulations will constrain the stores to sell their fur goods by 2020. It will be legal to exclude fur accessories and clothing from usage “under the authority of a California fur-trapping license” (“Los Angeles Is on Its Way to Banning the Sale of Animal Fur”). The era of fur fashion is coming to its end, and a new period of celebrating the animal rights is arriving in America.
Work Cited
“Los Angeles Is on Its Way to Banning the Sale of Animal Fur.” New York Post, 2018. Web.