Jennifer Aniston’s doing it. Kate Winslet’s all over it. And Eva Mendes is getting in on the action too.
They’ve all signed a pledge to stop using fur, feather and exotic skins in their photo shoots. The Hollywood stars are just a few of the many names who’ve signed on to the Creatives4Change initiative to make the fashion and entertainment industries more ethical.
It’s the brainchild of photographer Alexi Lubomirski who’s not only worked with Jen, Kate and Eva but also the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and most recently, Serena Williams in that Harper’s Bazaar cover.
“Our industry is highly influential,” Lubomirski explains in a video for the initiative. “It shapes trends in how people think, dress and behave.” And he’s hoping that if people with influence can make this commitment in their creative projects, the rest of the world will be inspired to be more mindful of their everyday decisions too.
The pledge reads:
“I love that I get to create and inspire with my work on a daily basis. I also recognise that the pleasure that we all take from this industry and the creativity that runs through it, should NOT come at the expense of ANIMALS, PEOPLE or the ENVIRONMENT. I therefore pledge, that moving forward, I will not knowingly use FUR, EXOTIC FEATHERS or EXOTIC SKINS in any of my creative projects. I also pledge to leave the fashion industry in a better place, than when I entered it, by being part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.”
It’s easy to sit here and think, ‘hell yes! why hasn’t everyone signed this already?’ And no doubt, as the movement gets more attention, more big names will be added to the list. But it’s interesting to hear Lubomirksi talking about one model who felt too powerless to sign, worried she might be seen as a “diva” on set.
He says “this morning I was DM-ing with one of the biggest models around today – a supermodel, top 5 in the world. And she was very interested in signing the pledge but she was also worried she didn’t have the power to make those kinds of decisions.”
The reality is that caring for animals, people and the planet is far-from diva-like behaviour. It shows compassion, kindness and a readiness to make the world a little bit better.
“All creatives have the power to inspire people,” Lubomirski writes in an Insta post, “so let’s make sure we inspire positively and create a cleaner and more cruelty-free fashion industry! It is totally possible, we all just need to take the step.”
We couldn’t agree more!
If you’d like to learn about the Creatives4Change initiative, please check out THE PLEDGE.