West Hollywood bans the sale of fur

By

Anaïs Lerévérend

Published
Oct 2, 2013

After two years in the making, the city of West Hollywood has become the first in the United States to ban the sale of fur used in ‘wearing apparel’. With a population of 35,000, West Hollywood is not only known as the ‘Humane Capital of the United States’ but also for its abundance of high-end designer stores.

The ban is against the sale of clothing items made with fur or shearling applies to clothing and accessories (including shoes, boots, hats and gloves) but does not include bags or soft furnishing. Restrictions do not apply to the wearing of fur in the city of West Hollywood. Vintage sellers are also exempt from the ban.

To avoid fines ranging between 200 and 800 dollars, department stores in the city have managed to find a solution: sending their furry stock to neighboring cities. However, for smaller, independent retailers, the solution is not so easy. One retailer has already filed a suit against the ban, stating that trade should be regulated by state authorities.