Fur will fly at Fashion Week

2003-08-19 12:52

Abigail Isaacs

Cape Town - Animal rights activists are planning to burn fur outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre this coming Saturday in protest against the use of furs at the Cape Town Fashion Week.

Clothing of the Scandinavian company Saga Furs will be displayed as well as those of the designers Gavin Rajah and Christiaan Gabriel du Toit.

Beryl Scott, national chairperson of Beauty without Cruelty, says the animals cannot escape from being killed in an inhumane manner.

"We want to draw attention to this and we want Saga to go home."

Tom Steifel-Kristensen, Saga's international communication chief, says the consumer took the decision about the furs.

He says: "During the past five or six years, furs have become more and more popular on the catwalk. The best furs come from animals that are not killed inhumanely. The company has no reason to believe that any animals are ill-treated."

Gavin Rajah, the co-ordinator of the Fashion Week, says it's all about freedom of expression. The wearing of furs is a worldwide tendency and Rajah wants the Cape Town Fashion Week to be on par with those held in London, Paris and Milan.

"I have my own strong views and accept that others also have their own point of view, but I won't stand back and let someone else tell me what I can do and what I can't do", Rajah said.

- Die Burger