Houdini and Haglöfs join Sweden’s fur-free list

Houdini Sportswear and Haglöfs joined Djurens Rätt’s fur-free list in 2015, alongside more than 120 other companies with a fur-free policy.

Houdini had been fur-free since its founding in 1993, and much of its clothing used recycled or renewable materials. The company saw rejecting fur as both an ethical decision and a choice to use materials it considered more functional.

“It was a fairly easy choice because we have never used fur or down in our production. We find it difficult ethically, but we also see major functional advantages in the materials we choose instead,” said Houdini’s Axel Lindgren, explaining the decision to join the list.

Founded in 1914, Haglöfs was described in the announcement as the Nordic region’s largest outdoor company. It had recently been named Environmental Company of the Year for 2014. At the time, it had three stores in Sweden and was sold through many retailers in Europe and Japan.

“We have a strict Animal Welfare Policy governing our requirements when using animal-derived materials in our products. Among other things, we consider it obvious that we should not use fur from any animal in our production,” said Lennart Ekberg, Haglöfs’s director of sustainability.

Djurens Rätt’s list forms part of the Fur Free Retailer Program, an international commitment by companies not to sell clothing or accessories made with animal fur.

At the time, the program was run by the Fur Free Alliance, comprising around 30 organizations worldwide working toward fur-free retail. Djurens Rätt coordinated the Swedish program and listed companies serving the Swedish market at www.palsfrihandel.se and in its Djurvänligt mobile app. The international list was available at www.furfreeretailer.com.

Photo/source: Djurens Rätt / Louise Cederlöf