Boohoo Group to cease sale of wool products

Online fashion group Boohoo has announced that it will no longer "knowingly source any wool products" from Aw19/20.

The group, which includes Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing and Nasty Gal, mad the move after being informed of cruelty in certain parts of the wool industry by animal rights group PETA.

"PETA is toasting boohoo group's compassionate, business-savvy decision to scrap wool," said PETA Director of Corporate Projects Yvonne Taylor. "Kind shoppers agree that no jumper or scarf is worth kicking, punching, and killing gentle sheep on the shearing floor, and we're urging other retailers to follow boohoo's forward-thinking example."

The move from Boohoo comes on the back of a wave of brands and retailers moving away from using animal products in their clothing.

A string of designers and brands at the luxury end of the market fro Burberry to Gucci and Versace have banned fur in the past two years. Others have also ruled out the use of exotic skins such as Chanel and Victoria Beckham (Beckham's brand was already fur-free).

Boohoo's rival retail group ASOS has ruled out a number of animal-based products from cashmere and mohair to silk, shells and mother of pearl but has not so far banned wool.

PETA claims that wool farmers in markets such as Australia, the US, and South America beat sheep and that some sheep have their throats cut while fully conscious. The group also staged a demonstration on day one of London Fashion Week today to raise awareness of cruelty in the wool market.