STRICTLY Come Dancing has taken a bold step towards cruelty-free fashion by ditching real feathers from its dazzling costumes following an appeal from animal rights group PETA. The BBC ballroom hit confirmed it has been “increasingly moving away from real feather use over the last few seasons” and will now focus on using faux feathers instead. The change comes amid growing calls to ditch animal products in fashion.
Victoria’s Secret recently showcased a feather-free collection, and top designers like Stella McCartney and Richard Malone have already turned their backs on real feathers. In the feather industry, birds such as ostriches, peacocks, and turkeys endure horrifying conditions. Ostriches as young as one year old are restrained, stunned, and slaughtered before their feathers are ripped out – often while they’re still warm.
READ MORE ON STRICTLY Strictly fans can now rest easy knowing that next year’s glitzy outfits will shimmer cruelty-free. The show’s Executive Producer, Sarah James, assured People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that the feathers from this season’s costumes – usually recycled for future series – “are unlikely to be re-used at all going forward.” PETA, which campaigns against the mistreatment of animals, has asked for the remaining feathers to be donated to its feather amnesty campaign, where they’ll be repurposed for educational displays, protests, and fashion college projects.
PETA’s Vice President, Yvonne Tayl.
