Condé Nast No Longer Features Fur in Editorials and Ads
In a significant policy shift, Vogue will cease to include “new animal fur in editorial content or advertising,” as stated in revised guidelines from its parent company, Condé Nast. This update was announced on the company’s website.
The new guidelines permit “defined exceptions, including byproducts of subsistence and indigenous practices,” and will also extend to other Condé Nast publications, such as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and GQ.
This decision carries profound implications for Vogue, often regarded as a leading authority in the fashion world, signaling a broader industry shift away from the use of fur.
A Condé Nast spokesperson remarked, “Our values and fashion guidelines have reflected this for many years,” when discussing the rationale behind the policy change.
The decline of fur’s popularity has been evident over recent years, with numerous brands including Canada Goose, Gucci, Net-a-Porter, Versace, Prada, Neiman Marcus, and Michael Kors announcing plans to phase out fur products since the 2010s.
In December 2021, Elle magazine banned fur from all its international editions, citing a commitment to animal welfare and evolving consumer preferences. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Croatia, Italy, and Norway, have banned fur farming, and Israel became the first nation to prohibit new fur sales in 2021.
However, interest in fur experienced a resurgence in 2024, spurred by the “mob wives” aesthetic trending on TikTok. This movement has reintroduced lavish fur coats, animal prints, and opulent accessories into popular fashion, particularly among younger audiences.
Vogue has engaged with this trend critically, publishing pieces that examine its ethical implications, even when the fur in question is vintage or faux. Headlines have included inquiries such as, “Is Wearing Vintage Fur Socially Acceptable Now?”
Despite this recent discourse, as of just ten days ago, Condé Nast had not addressed fur on its sustainability page, according to archived evidence from The Wayback Machine.
The anti-fur policy emerged following a nine-month campaign led by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT). During this period, animal rights activists staged protests at Vogue editor residences and events in New York and London, and conducted demonstrations in stores linked to the magazine.
CAFT publicly welcomed the policy change in a statement released on Sunday.
Each year, millions of animals are killed for their pelts, even as fur farming faces bans in numerous nations. According to Humane Society International, most animals are housed in “barren battery cages on fur farms.”
Vogue’s former editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, has faced criticism from animal rights advocates for her affinity for fur, notably being struck with a tofu pie during a protest in 2005.
In a 2019 interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Wintour notably sidestepped condemning the fur industry, claiming, “fake fur is obviously more of a polluter than real fur.”
“I think a lot of people are discussing the idea of upcycling and what you can do with fabrics, fur, things that have already been used … I think it’s up to the houses that work with fur to make sure they are following best practices, that they are being ethical in their treatment,” she added, reflecting ongoing discussions within the fashion community.
