SMCP will stop using down and feathers

Following a move to ban fur and exotic skins, SMCP — the owner of Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac — has now said it’s also ending its use of down and feathers.

The premium fashion firm confirmed to PETA France that it will ban such items from its products by the AW23 season.

PETA said it’s a “welcome commitment on the part of the group”, which operates 1,684 stores in 43 countries.

In an email to the campaign organisation, a representative of SMCP said the group was committed to having “completely removed duck and goose feathers across its four brands” in less than a year.

It added that for several seasons, it had been making the shift towards materials that would allow it to replace down and other feathers across all its brands.

Following long-running campaigns against fur and exotic skins, PETA has focused on the down industry more recently with exposés showing abuse of animals even on farms that supply to brands certified under the Responsible Down Standard, such as “Marks & Spencer, H&M, Uniqlo, Gap Inc, Lacoste, and dozens of others”.

It also said that “animal-friendly feathers” that are vegan, warm and high-performing are now available made from natural and recycled materials. And unlike down, they don’t “accumulate dust and mould and retain their insulating properties even when damp”.

It cited brands including The North Face, Napapijri, Henrik Vibskov, and Save the Duck that now use such materials.

SMCP will stop using down and feathers

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