Williams-Sonoma ditches alpaca wool after PETA exposé

Home furnishing giant, Williams-Sonoma has discontinued sourcing alpaca fleece from all of its products, including Mark, Pottery Barn, west elm, and Graham, and Rejuvenation after PETA shared its alpaca fleece exposé, which shows that weeping alpacas were rough shorn, cut open, and left bleeding from deep wounds for wool.

Tracy Reiman, PETA Executive Vice President, said Alpacas can not be thrown around and tied down to produce blankets. Drab alpaca-fleece furniture is gone, and Williams-decision Sonoma’s to prohibit it will aid PETA in moving this market in a more compassionate direction.

Workers slammed alpacas—some of whom were pregnant—onto tables, tied them to a stretching frame, and pulled tight, nearly wrenching their legs out of their sockets, according to PETA’s investigation of Mallkini, the world’s largest privately-owned alpaca farm in Peru.

In addition to this abuse, Alpaca fleece processing is also harmful to the atmosphere, according to the Higg Materials Sustainability Index, which rates alpaca fleece as the second most environmentally destructive commodity.

Williams-Sonoma is the next retailer to ban alpaca fleece, joining Columbia Sportswear, Overstock, UNIQLO, Valentino, and ESPRIT. Following discussions with PETA, the firm recently barred mohair from its shops, declared it is West Elm hotels down-free and eliminated foie gras from recipes.