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Macy's and Bloomingdale’s are going to stop selling fur by 2021

Posted at 10:17 AM, Oct 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-22 12:17:21-04

Fur will no longer have a home at Macy's or Bloomingdale's.

Macy's, Inc. announced Monday that its two chain retailers will be going fur free by the end of fiscal year 2020. The new policy will also apply to all subsidiaries of Macy’s, its vendors and suppliers.

The retailer's private brands are already fur free, according to the company, and many of its national brand partners are as well, making this move "the natural next step in this process."

Any of the company's private brands that aren't currently fur free will also be by the end of fiscal 2020.

The move means Macy's and Bloomingdale's will no longer be selling fur products and will be closing their in-store Fur Vault and Maximilian locations.

"We curate our assortment based on the wants and needs of our customers," a statement from Macy's says. "Our customer is migrating away from natural fur and we are aligning with this trend. With the rise of new fabric technology, alternatives like faux fur and other fabric innovations make this a seamless transition for our customers."

The company says it will through a transition plan with customers currently using their fur storage services.

So what exactly is Macy's new fur-free policy?

"Our fur-free policy was developed in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States and in alignment with Fur Free Alliance guidelines, which allow ethically sourced sheep fur products referred to as 'shearling' or 'sheepskin,' and cattle fur referred to 'calf hair' and 'cowhide,' " the company's statement says.

The company's shift toward fur-free shopping follows many other brands making similar moves. According to the Humane Society of the United States, Gucci, Chanel, Coach, Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors and Armani already have similar policies in place. In addition, earlier this month, California became the first state to ban fur. The ban goes into effect January 1, 2023.