Zara Bans Angora & Does Something Pretty Cool With The Leftovers

In a move that will make animal-lovers and bunnies alike very happy, Inditex confirmed yesterday that it will no longer sell products made with angora wool. Inditex is the Spanish parent company of eight clothing brands, including Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Bershka — making it one of the world's largest fashion retailers, with more than 6,300 stores worldwide. The angora ban goes into effect immediately, across all of Inditex's brands. The company was urged to ban rabbit fur by PETA. The animal-rights organization has undertaken a campaign to get major retailers to give up angora because of its cruel farming practices — you may remember a PETA-produced viral video making the rounds last year that showed angora rabbits being live-plucked (fair warning: that footage is not for sensitive stomachs). So far, ASOS, H&M, Forever 21, Lands' End, and Lacoste, among other brands, have banned the use or sale of rabbit wool, too.  As further proof of its commitment to non-cruelty, Inditex announced that it will donate 20,000 angora garments that were manufactured prior to the ban. The garments have a retail value of $878,000 and will be given to the charity Life for Relief and Development, which benefits Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Kudos to Inditex for refusing to profit from animal cruelty. Now, we can buy those chunky, funnel-neck Zara sweaters without worrying our conscience.