DUTCH FASHION SCENE CALLS FOR A FUR-FREE AMSTERDAM FASHION WEEK

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – May 29, 2012

Over a hundred Dutch designers, stylists, fashion magazines, photographers and celebrities are calling upon Amsterdam Fashion Week by means of an open letter to choose for a fur-free Fashion Week. They believe that putting fur-free fashion shows on stage is a logical step towards an innovative, sustainable and animal friendly event. Amongst the supporters are Esther Coppoolse (fashion director ELLE), Simone Dernee (fashion director Marie Claire), Hilmar Mulder (editor-in-chief Grazia), former founder of Amsterdam Fashion Week James Veenhoff, fashion designers Conny Groenewegen, Bas Kosters, Hans Ubbink and Jacob Kok. Photographers Petrovsky & Ramone, actress Anna Drijver and presenter Nicolette Kluijver are also supporting this initiative.

The open letter is an initiative of animal rights organization Bont voor Dieren, fashion collective Fur Free Fashion and designer Michael Barnaart van Bergen. Amsterdam Fashion Week is not only the place to be within the Dutch fashion scene, but the event has also become a place where sustainable fashion is encouraged. Steps have been taken by seeking cooperation with the sustainable Amsterdam Eco Cluster en by supporting several conscious fashion initiatives. The Green Fashion Competition, which has become an integral part of Amsterdam Fashion Week since 2010, is a good example of this.

However, the initiators and supporters of the open letter believe that this ambition in sustainability does not coincide with showing real fur on the catwalk. In 2011, independent research company CE Delft has conducted a research to the environmental consequences of producing fur. The pollution caused by the production of one kilo of mink fur proved to be five times higher then what producing one kilo of cotton would cause. The study shows that mink breeding has a serious and unnecessary impact on aspects such as climate change, pollution and soil acidification. And besides being an environmental burden, producing fur is also very harmful to animals. In reality, mainly wild animals are bred solely for their skin and with no regard for their well being, resulting in a terrible death. This is obviously the reason why the Dutch government – except from allowing breeding and killing mink – banned the production of fur. In July 2009 a majority of the House of Representative’s (Tweede Kamer) even also voted in favour of a ban on mink breeding in the Netherlands.

 

Last year, the Oslo Fashion Week was the first fashion week in the world to implement a fur-free policy. Bont voor Dieren, Fur Free Fashion and designer Michael Barnaart van Bergen also envision Amsterdam Fashion Week to be a place where sustainability and fashion go hand in hand. Through this letter – that is largely supported by the Dutch fashion scene – the initiators hope to persuade the board of Amsterdam Fashion Week to choose a fur-free policy.

Stichting Bont voor Dieren is an organization that aims to protect animals and campaigns against fur. Fur Free Fashion is an initiative by dj’s Jojanneke van der Veer and Femke Dekker. Fashion designer Michael Barnaart van Bergen is popular amongst Dutch celebrities thanks to his timeless and clear designs.

Supporters of a fur-free AFW are:

1. Hilmar Mulder (editor-in-chief Dutch Grazia)
2. Esther Coppoolse (fashion director Dutch ELLE)
3. Simone Dernee (fashion director Dutch Marie Claire)
4. Astrid Schilders (fashion director RED Magazine)
5. Debby Gerritsen (editor-in-chief Vega Magazine)
6. Leontine van den Bos (editor-in-chief Margriet Magazine)
7. Jossine Modderman (editor-in-chief VIVA Magazine)
8. Anna Drijver (actress)
9. Elsien Gringhuis (designer)
10. Bas Kosters (designer)
11. Hans Ubbink (designer)
12. Conny Groenewegen (designer)
13. Jacob Kok (designer)
14. Antoine Peters (designer)
15. Gijs Stork (founder /SALON)
16. Rogier Vlaming (editor-in-chief Glamcult)
17. Marline Bakker (art director Glamcult)
18. JOFF (fashion director Blend)
19. Sandra Govers (make-up artist)
20. Hester Vlamings (designer)
21. Nicolette Kluijver (presenter)
22. Susan Smit (writer)
23. Georgina Verbaan (actress)
24. Sanne Vogel (actress)
25. Mirik Milan (night mayor Amsterdam)
26. Bridget Maasland (presenter)
27. Andy Tan (photographer)
28. Petrovsky & Ramone (photographers)
29. Thekla Reuten (actress)
30. Nieuw Jurk (designer)
31. Ganbaroo PRPR (PR agency)
32. Robbie Baauw (photographer)
33. Mo Veld (fashion journalist)
34. Twin Couture (designer)
35. And Beyond (designer)
36. Willa Stoutenbeek / W. Green (PR specialist)
37. Sheila Hill (fashion DJ)
38. NON by KIM (designer)
39. Odette Simons (stylist)
40. LEW by Leemans & Wicker (designer)
41. Hadewych Minis (actress)
42. Jojanneke van der Veer / DJ Wannabeastar (CEO at WANNABEASTAR)
43. Andrea van Pol (presente)
44. Yo de Boer (photographer)
45. Vaag Magazine (fashion and lifestyle website)
46. Peter-Frank Heuseveldt (producer)
47. Gabrielle Koster (editor ELLE online)
48. Tim Groen (photographer)
49. Quoc Thang (designer)
50. Rachid Naas (producer)
51. Merel Boers / Miss Blackbirdy (designer)
52. Marcha Hüskes (designer)
53. Claudy Jongstra (designer)
54. Alex Kaseta (VJ)
55. Leon Verdonschot (writer)
56. ATTI (illustrator)
57. Sanne Groot-Koerkamp (journalist)
58. Sage and Ivy (designer)
59. Laf Wear (designer)
60. Renée Sturme (photographer)
61. Miro Zwering (owner 2PR)
62. Inge Ipenburg (actress)
63. Liza Chloë (fashion blogger)
64. Elza Jo (photographer)
65. Bonne van der Ree (designer)
66. Ilona de Leeuw (hair stylist)
67. Kim Vos (catwalk coach)
68. Iefke de Roos (designer)
69. Charlotte Markus (photographer)
70. Yvonne Nusdorfer (make-up artist)
71. Sjaak Pul (artist manager)
72. Jeroen Hofman (photographer)
73. Paula Udondek (presenter)
74. Edith Dohmen (stylist)
75. Strange Boutique (fashion DJ’s)
76. Sabrina Bongiovanni (photographer)
77. Barry Hullegie (photographer)
78. Niek Pulles (designer)
79. Susanne Clermonts (artist Krause)
80. Maudy Alferink (designer
81. Anne Barhoorn (screenwriter)
82. Marieke Eyskoot / Talking Dress (ethical fashion expert)
83. Dennis Duijnhouwer (photographer)
84. The G-Team (DJ’s)
85. Kimberley Klaver (actress)
86. Eva Anna Hekking / EAH! (designer)
87. Margreet Olsthoorn (MGHO)
88. Lisa Anne Stuyfzand (stylist)
89. Eric van den Elsen (photographer)
90. Rianne de Witte (designer)
91. Mette te Velde (Founder of Strawberry Earth)
92. Ikenna Azuike (Founder of Strawberry Earth)
93. Salvador Breed (sound designer / producer)
94. Loretta Schrijver (presenter)
96. Amadea Boneschansker (model / campaigner)
97. Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen (photographer)
98. Froukje Jansen (presenter)
99. Frans Piek (artist)
100. Daphne van der Voorde (photographer)
101. Jennifer Delano (agent Delano PR en writer)
102. Sallie Harmsen (actress)
103. Ingrid van Hemert (make-up artist)
104. Wouter van den Brink (photographer)
105. Sasja Strengholt (director Deux d’Amsterdam)
106. Saba Babas-Zadeh (creative director and curator)
107. Marian Mudder (actress)
108. Cleo Campert (photographer)
109. Ilonka Leenheer (writer / columnist Dutch ELLE)
110. Thomas Vermeer (stylist)
111. Cynthia Schrijver (stylist)
112. Marij Rynja (blogger)
113. Mounira Hadj Mansour (actress)
114. Edel Verzijl (fashion photographer Sticky Stuff)
115. Egbert Jan Weeber (actor)
116. Tygo Gernandt (actor)
117. Sita Willemse (owner Open Shop)
118. Hanka van der Voet (lecturer ArtEZ Fashion Masters)
119. Jantine van Peski (designer)
120. Richard Schreefel (stylist)
121. Ilja Visser (designer)
122. Peter Heysteeg (general manager Ilja Visser Group)
123. Esther de Leeuwe (sales manager Ilja Visser Group)
124. Peter Bas Mensink (publisher / founder GUP)
125. Analik Brouwer (designer)
126. Paul Berends (photographer)
128. Ellen van Exter (make-up artist)
129. Lukas Göbel (photographer)
130. Marieke van den Biggelaar (illustrator)
131. Miriam van ‘t Veer (presentor I Love Work)
132. Isis Vaandrager (stylist)
133. Christine Bornfeld (designer & editor)
134. Irene Dirks (ECO blogger)
135. Karlijn Visser (owner of Goodiebag girl)
136. Evelien Bosch (presenter)
137. Joshua Rood (photographer)
138. James Veenhoff (former founder of Amsterdam Fashion Week)
139. Arno van Kantelberg (editor-in-chief Esquire)
140. Iris van Herpen (designer)
141. Renu Kashyap (stylist)