Saks Fifth Avenue to Phase Out Fur

Saks Fifth Avenue is taking fur out of its luxury equation.

The retailer has committed to stop selling products made using animal fur through a phased approach by the end of fiscal 2022 which is Jan. 28, 2023. This includes both brand partner and private label merchandise sold online and in the Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

“Across the Saks Fifth Avenue experience, we evaluate a number of factors when making decisions about our assortment, including customer preferences and societal shifts. We recognize that trends constantly evolve, and that the sale of fur remains a significant social issue. As such, eliminating it from our assortment is the right step for us to take at this time,” Tracy Margolies, chief merchandising officer of Saks, said in a statement Wednesday.

With this decision, Saks Fifth Avenue will eliminate the sale of products made from animals that were raised for the use of their fur or those made with fur from wild animals. Shearling, goatskin, cattle hide, down, feathers, leather and faux fur products will continue to be sold online and in stores.

Saks Fifth Avenue plans to close all of its fur salons by the end of fiscal 2021, which is Jan. 29, 2022. The luxury retailer also indicated that it will work closely with vendor partners to phase out the sale of fur products both online and in stores by the end of fiscal 2022.

Saks has 27 locations with fur salons. Some are hard shops; others occupy smaller sections on the selling floors. Among the Saks locations with fur salons are New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Beverly Hills, Calif.

Many major designer brands that sell at Saks Fifth Avenue and other upscale retailers have already committed to stop using fur in their collections, including Gucci, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Coach, Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, Prada, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.

Other retailers too have banned the sale of fur, responding to pressures from consumers and such organizations as PETA and the Humane Society. Macy’s Inc. discontinued selling fur at its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores last February. Nordstrom has also decided to ban furs. Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman continue to sell furs.

At Saks, it is believed that the discontinuation of fur will not have a significant impact on the store’s overall business, and that the buying team sees more than enough alternatives.

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