Macy’s to ban use of reptile and ostrich leather

Department store chain Macy’s has announced that it will be banning leather from alligators, snakes, lizards, and ostriches in its stores.

It happened in response to pressure from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which met with the shop to provide details on how such materials are acquired.

PETA’s executive vice president, Tracy Reiman, said that behind every ostrich or reptile leather bag is an animal who endured an agonizing death, and they thank Macy’s for taking measures to help end such atrocities. PETA applauds this humanitarian action and reminds everyone that skin only belongs to animals that were born with it.

The decision was made more than three years after Macy’s banned fur products from its stores, apparently in response to growing objections from PETA and its own customers.

Macy’s has recently banned certain materials, joining brands like Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, and Uniqlo, who have all removed them from their product lines.