West Hollywood Bans Sale of Fur
West Hollywood’s City Council approved a controversial ban on the sale of fur apparel products just before 1 A.M. Nov. 8, three council members supported the new law, one opposed it and one abstained.
The law will go into affect 2013 and will prohibit the sale of new fur jackets, vests, stoles and boots at boutiques in this fashionable city which includes stores for high profile fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Alberta Ferretti and John Varvatos.
However the law allows fashion fur retailers some leeway. The sale of vintage fur items will be allowed in the 1.9 mile city sandwiched between Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. Non-profit organizations also will be allowed to raise funds through the sale of fur items in city limits. Leather items also will be allowed.
Mayor John Duran directed the town’s city manager to conduct an independent study of how the ban will affect the city’s retailers. If the study confirms that the sales of West Hollywood retailers will be significantly hurt, the law will be changed he said.The law might be revisited in six months.
Retailers at the meeting said the law would infringe on their ability to conduct business. “It’s hard enough to survive in the current economic climate,” said David Klein of West Hollywood fashion boutique Goldsmith Klein. “Now you given us another hurdle....When you pay my lease, you can tell me what to sell in my store.”
Prominent fashion designer Stella McCartney sent a message supporting the ban on fur. “The ban on the sale of fur in West Hollywood is a true example of the kinds of efforts we need to make to influence people that will hopefully lead to positive change,” McCartney wrote in a letter dated Nov. 2. California Apparel News will report more on this breaking story later this week.
