Italian fashion company Gucci has just announced this week that they will no longer be using animal fur in their products, effective starting with its spring-summer 2018 collection.

Furthermore, all their remaining fur products – including mink, coyote, raccoon dog, fox, rabbit, and karakul – will be sold at a charity auction to benefit the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and LAV, the Italian animal protection organization.

Marco Bizzarri, Gucci's President and CEO, said: "Being socially responsible is one of Gucci's core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals. With the help of HSUS and LAV, Gucci is excited to take this next step and hopes it will help inspire innovation and raise awareness, changing the luxury fashion industry for the better."

The announcement is part of Gucci's new partnership with the Fur Free Alliance – a group of 40 organizations and designers that have sworn off fur products, including Armani, Hugo Boss, Yoox Net-a-Porter, and Stella McCartney.

PJ Smith, the senior manager of fashion policy for HSUS, said: "With this announcement, Gucci will help to change the way the luxury fashion industry considers animals."

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"There is a growing segment of new, ethically-minded consumers who care about innovation and social responsibility and want nothing to do with outdated and inherently cruel products, like fur. Gucci understands this and will likely reap the benefits as a result."

This is just one of the animal rights victory that the Fur Free Alliance has recently celebrated, too – the organization succeeded in helping to persuade the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, to sign an amendment on an animal protection law that will bring an end to fur farming. The legislation is due to go into effect on the first day of the second calendar month following its publication.

Simone Pavesi, the manager of animal-free fashion for LAV, said: "Respect for animals is becoming more entrenched in people's values and the great names of fashion are gradually implementing social responsibility policies to reflect that. As fashion becomes more and more ethical, supply chains that revolve around animals will be a thing of the past."

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