An attendee dons a black crocodile print pattern Balenciaga handbag during New York Fashion Week. Edward Berthelot/Getty 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 are often far more sustainable choices than leather and synthetic materials.
They say a ban would undermine economic incentives for communities to conserve species–warning that claims the decision was made for sustainability reasons were “wrong.” “If designers were serious and informed themselves, we’d all be wearing snakeskin underpants.” Luxury bags made from exotic skins can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, with some of the money .
