A recent investigation by World Animal Protection and Collective Fashion Justice has revealed that South African ostrich farms are using inhumane methods to remove feathers from living birds. The investigation found that ostriches are cornered by workers, who put bags over their heads and then cut and pull out their feathers without administering pain relief. This process is repeated every six months on some birds, causing extreme distress and pain.
The investigation documented footage of ostriches being plucked alive, with some farms cutting feathers above the bloodline, which means they are still growing and supplied with blood. This process is known as "blood feathers," and it is extremely cruel and painful for the ostriches. The charity found that the feathers are then supplied to luxury brands, including YSL, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Chanel, as well as fast-fashion giant Shein.
According to World Animal Protection, South Africa accounts for about 75 percent of the global ostrich market, producing meat, leather, and feathers. The industry exports over 150 tonnes of ostrich feathers, with around 150,000 ostriches slaughtered for the feather, meat, and skin trades each year. The charity claims that the findings challenge the notion that ostrich feathers used in fashion are simply collected during the birds' natural moult.
The investigation also reported seeing injured birds, including ostriches that appeared unable to stand and others with wounds from pecking at each other's eyes and feathers. World Animal Protection and Collective Fashion Justice are calling on fashion brands to take responsibility for their supply chains and to find alternative, cruelty-free materials. The charities argue that there are many innovative fabric manipulation techniques and bio-materials available that can create the same lightness, volume, and movement as feathers.
Campaign manager at World Animal Protection, Olivia Charlton, said that pulling out a bird's feathers with pliers is not natural and that it's time for the fashion industry to take responsibility. She compared the treatment of ostriches to the fur trade, saying that it's the same cruelty, just with a different animal. Charlton urged fashion brands to rethink their use of ostrich feathers and to prioritize animal welfare.
Emma Hakansson, founding director of Collective Fashion Justice, also criticized the fashion industry for rejecting fur while embracing ostrich feathers. She argued that it's inconsistent for fashion brands to claim to be animal-friendly while still using products that come from a slaughtering industry full of suffering. Hakansson called for the industry to adopt more humane and sustainable practices.
The report, entitled "Blood Feathers," examines conditions on commercial ostrich farms and at feather-processing facilities in South Africa. World Animal Protection and Collective Fashion Justice are calling on consumers to demand more transparency and accountability from fashion brands and to choose cruelty-free and sustainable options. The investigation's findings have sparked outrage and calls for change in the fashion industry.
Key points
- Ostrich farms in South Africa use cruel methods to remove feathers from living birds.
- The feathers are supplied to luxury brands, including YSL, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Chanel.
- The investigation challenges the notion that ostrich feathers used in fashion are simply collected during the birds' natural moult.
