Parsons School of Design Hosts Vegan Fashion Panel Led by Todd Oldham
Because of its focus on sustainability, Parsons School of Design—America’s top design school—has shed its longtime fur program and welcomed a PETA panel hosted by Todd Oldham.
Including Parsons professor and Brave GentleMan designer Joshua Katcher and PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews, the panel was held today in front of fashion influencers and design students. Oldham also debuted an animal-free fashion tutorial video that he recorded at the Rhode Island School of Design, which recently hosted a museum retrospective of his fashions.
He plans to share the video with design students across the country to demonstrate the various ways that he’s adapted fabrics in order to avoid using fur, leather, feathers, and other animal-derived materials.
Sustainable Fashion
Parsons’ increased focus on sustainable fashion comes as global demand for fur from the skins of animals has plummeted and sustainable vegan fashion is on the rise, according to Forbes. Last year, Giorgio Armani agreed to go fur-free following appeals from PETA, joining other top retailers and designers such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Vivienne Westwood. Fur- and leather-free designer Stella McCartney continues to be a shining example of compassion in the fashion community, showcasing high-end vegan leather at her Paris runway show last fall. More and more designers are proving that fashion can be stunning without slaughter.
Celebrities are getting in on the action, too, as Lena Dunham was spotted wearing cruelty-free vintage Todd Oldham at a recent Girls premiere. Singer Mýa and actor Helen Mirren were also seen in recent weeks wearing gorgeous animal-free pieces.
There’s simply no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool. Cruelty-free fabrics such as vegan fur are available in stores everywhere, and PETA continues to work with designers and clothing retailers in order to encourage them to use and sell only animal-friendly fabrics.
Take a stand against cruelty to animals by signing PETA’s fur-free pledge today!
