News Releases

ECLIPSE BRAND BANS AUSTRALIAN WOOL FROM MUTILATED SHEEP

Malaysian Fashion Designer Refuses to Support Cruel Mulesing of Lambs

 

For Immediate Release:

24 November 2011

 

Kuala Lumpur -- A prestigious Malaysian clothing maker and retailer is the latest in a growing number of companies worldwide to reject wool from Australian sheep who were mutilated as lambs in a barbaric procedure called "mulesing". After receiving a letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Australia, Fasb Retail Ventures -- marketers of the Eclipse brand and one of the leading fashion design, manufacturing and retail houses in the Asian region -- wrote back to PETA, "Please be informed ... that Eclipse will adopt the policy of banning all wool from mulesed sheep". Fasb markets men's and women's clothing and accessories under various house-brand names.

 

"Consumers in Malaysia and across Asia are shocked to learn about Australia's dirty little secret: mulesing", says PETA Australia director of campaigns Jason Baker. "Fasb is listening to its customers and has set a worthy example for other fashion designers and retailers to follow."

 

In mulesing, large chunks of skin and flesh are cut from lambs' backsides with instruments resembling garden shears in a crude and cruel attempt to prevent a maggot infestation called "flystrike". Experts estimate that a transition to sheep who are less susceptible to flystrike could be accomplished in two years. Sheep farmers in New Zealand -- and even many in Australia -- have already abandoned mulesing.

 

Fasb joins other leading designers and retailers that shun the use of Australian wool or wool from mulesed lambs including H&M, HUGO BOSS, Giordano, Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland and Gap Inc.

 

PETA's correspondence with Fasb is available upon request. For more information on the cruelty of mulesing, please visit PETAAsiaPacific.com.

 

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