Anti-fur trade campaigners storm into New Look in Ramsgate town centre
Published: 00:00, 13 October 2015
Updated: 11:58, 13 October 2015
A dozen animal rights campaigners stormed a high street fashion store to protest against its faux fur range.
They gathered in an attempt to stop a stallholder in Ramsgate town centre selling garments thought to be decorated with Chinese fox fur.
Campaigners met outside Lloyds Bank in Queen Street on Friday before heading to the market but when they found the stallholder had not shown up, they turned their attention to the Ramsgate branch of New Look.
Former Thanet councillor and Green Party candidate Ian Driver led the group into the shop.
He said: “Clearly word had got around about our planned demonstration and the stall was not there today but just down the road is a branch of fashion retailer New Look.
“Inside we found what were described on the labels as fur fox stoles.
“The staff were a bit surprised by our visit and tried to reassure us that the stoles were not made from real fox fur. We were not convinced.
“First there were other jackets and coats for sale in the shop with fur trimmings on which the label clearly described the fur as faux fur.
“Second the new Consumer Rights Act 2015 which came into force just last week states that the goods have to match their description, which can only mean that if says its fox fur it must be fox fur.”
New Look responded to Mr Driver on Twitter.
The statement read: “The full composition of this garment, which can be found on the care label, is 90% acrylic and 10% polyester.
“We also believe that using animal fur is unacceptable so we never use it in our products.”
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James Rose