Luxury German fashion retailer Mytheresa, has pledged to go fur-free starting in spring/summer 2022 and will phase out existing inventory from prior seasons by the end of the year.

Mytheresa will no longer offer goods manufactured from animals reared exclusively for the purpose of obtaining their fur, as well as those made from wild animal fur. Fur from factory-farmed animals including mink, fox, chinchilla, muskrat, rabbit, raccoon dog, sable, and karakul lamb, as well as wild species like coyote and beaver, will be banned.

However, the shop will continue to offer items made of leather, shearling, or sheepskin, as well as cattle fur known as 'calf hair' and 'cowhide,' as well as products made of synthetic, fake fur materials.

The fur prohibition will apply to the company's whole operation, including its online and physical boutiques. From spring/summer 2021, the shop will ban exotic skins from animals such as python, lizard, alligator, crocodile, ostrich, shark, kangaroo, and stingray, among others.

Michael Kliger, chief executive of Mytheresa, said that at Mytheresa, they think that sustainability is a key component of their future strategy, and this perspective is clearly supported by their customers, partners, and employees. They stopped importing exotic skins in the spring/summer of 2021, therefore it was obvious that being fur-free was the next logical step for Mytheresa. They’re happy to be making this shift, and they appreciate the assistance of the Humane Society of the United States, Four Paws, and the Fur Free Alliance.

Mytheresa's animal welfare policy was created in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States and in compliance with the Fur Free Retailer program's requirements. The Fur Free Alliance, an international alliance of more than 50 major animal welfare and environmental protection organizations, has endorsed the project.

Thomas Pietsch, head of wild animals in entertainment and textiles at Four Paws, the official representative of the Fur Free Retailer program in Germany, said that they’re extremely delighted to see Mytheresa agreeing to prohibit genuine fur and exotic leather. This step forward in animal care is not only humane and in accordance with customer expectations, but it also demonstrates a greater understanding of what genuine corporate social responsibility entails. They hope Mytheresa continues to enhance its animal welfare policies in order to contribute to the development of an animal-friendly fashion future.

Sylvie Kremerskothen Gleason, Germany director for Humane Society International/Europe, said that they applaud Mytheresa's humane promise to go fur-free. This promise reflects customer concerns and expectations, and aligns the firm with some of the most prestigious names in luxury and designer fashion, like Hugo Boss, Canada Goose, Oscar de la Renta, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, and Versace, in opposing fur. Now is the time for the German government to push for a European-wide ban on fur production and to take necessary action.

Despite the fact that several European Union nations have banned fur farming, the EU still raises and kills almost 38 million animals on fur farms each year, according to Humane Society International/Europe.

Numerous European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom, have outlawed or are in the process of banning fur farming.