Does Hermes Kill Animals?

Hermes is a luxury fashion brand known for its iconic Birkin and Kelly bags, scarves, and other high-end accessories. However, there has been a lot of debate around whether or not Hermes kills animals to produce these products. In this article, we will delve deeper into this issue and try to uncover the truth.

What is Hermes?

Hermes is a French luxury fashion house that was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès. The brand initially started as a harness workshop that catered to the needs of European noblemen. Over the years, it has evolved into one of the most famous luxury brands in the world.

What materials does Hermes use?

Hermes is known for using high-quality materials such as leather, silk, and cashmere in its products. However, there has been a lot of controversy around whether or not Hermes uses animal skin to produce its leather goods.

Leather

Hermes primarily uses cowhide and calf leather to produce its leather goods. However, the brand has also used exotic skins such as crocodile, alligator, ostrich and lizard in some of its products.

Silk

Hermes is also known for its silk scarves which are made from mulberry silk. The brand uses traditional methods such as screen printing and hand-rolling to create these iconic scarves.

Cashmere

Cashmere wool is obtained by combing the undercoat of cashmere goats. The wool is then spun into yarn which is used to produce soft and luxurious fabrics such as cashmere sweaters.

Does Hermes kill animals?

The short answer is yes. In order to obtain exotic skins like crocodile, alligator, ostrich and lizard; animals have to be killed.

These animals are bred in captivity and then killed for their skins. However, it is important to note that Hermes claims to source its exotic skins from reputable and sustainable farms that adhere to strict animal welfare standards.

When it comes to cowhide and calf leather, the animals are not killed specifically for Hermes. They are raised for their meat and the hides are a byproduct of the meat industry. However, animal rights activists argue that the conditions in which these animals are raised and slaughtered are cruel and inhumane.

What is Hermes doing to address this issue?

In recent years, Hermes has been taking steps to address concerns around animal welfare. The brand has implemented strict sourcing policies for its exotic skins and has also started using alternative materials such as mushroom leather in some of its products.

Hermes has also been working with organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society to promote sustainable farming practices and protect endangered species.

Conclusion

While it is true that Hermes does kill animals for some of its products, the brand has been taking steps to address concerns around animal welfare. It is up to consumers to decide whether or not they want to support a brand that uses animal products. However, it is important for consumers to be informed about where their products come from so they can make an informed decision.