Ann Taylor, a national retailer of upscale women's clothing, shoes, and accessories is selling fur for the first time in many years. See a photo and description of one item that is being sold, a "fur pull through scarf. " Telephone calls and e-mails to Ann Taylor have confirmed that this is real rabbit fur. Customer service representatives have been polite and thorough and have stated that this is the first year in many years that Ann Taylor is selling fur items. They added that they have received numerous complaints about the fur item. They are keeping record of all calls of complaint and are taking the matter seriously. As with any company, Ann Taylor will continue to sell fur if the company feels that it is something that consumers want. 

Rabbit fur is inexpensive, making it affordable for young people to buy, wear and promote. Although furriers may claim that rabbit fur is a by-product of the meat industry, The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations states otherwise: "There is no hope of supplying quality furs under current rational production conditions for meat rabbits, particularly those slaughtered at 11 weeks." Hundreds of millions of rabbits are killed each year for their fur. Like other animals "farmed" for their fur, rabbits-who are extremely clean by nature-are kept in tiny, soiled cages, surrounded by their own waste. They spend their entire miserable lives standing on the wire mesh cage floor until they are killed by having their necks snapped or having their skulls beaten before being strung up by the legs and having their heads cut off. 


What You Can Do 

Please contact Ann Taylor and POLITELY state that you are saddened to see the introduction of fur into its collection. Please urge the company to become fur-free as Inditex, an international retailer did several weeks ago. 

Contact: 

Ann Taylor Stores 
J. Patrick Spainhour, Chairman and CEO
100 Ann Taylor Drive
P.O. BOX 571650
Taylorsville, UT 84157-1650
Tel.: (800) 342-5266
Fax: (866) 232-9266
E-mail: clientservices@anntaylor.com