The owner of the Neiman Marcus nationwide and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, said it will close all its existing fur salons and convert them to spaces for “modern luxury experiences”. Neiman Marcus currently has 21 fur salons in stores, while Bergdorf’s has one. “We are delivering an ultimate luxury experience for our customers and their evolving preferences,” said NMG chief executive officer, Geoffroy van Raemdonck.
“We are updating our assortment to feature multiple sustainable and ethical luxury fashion categories. It is clear the future is fur-free, and that includes the ultra-luxury space. As a leader in luxury retail, NMG has an opportunity to help build a better future for our industry. We’re grateful to the Humane Society of the United States for their partnership.”The move follows the recent creation of a dedicated team “to identify, improve, and disclose performance on material Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) issues,” including topics like animal welfare. The announcement also comes as fellow luxury fashion brands and retailers make similar commitments. Toronto-based brand Canada Goose announced this June its commitment to go fur-free, which was followed by a commitment from luxury Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew. Others to go fur-free include Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. As part of its Animal Welfare Policy, the group worked with the Humane Society of the United States on the strategy.“We welcome this important policy from Neiman Marcus Group,” said PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for the Humane Society of the United States.“The company’s fur-free pledge represents a transformational change in retail, and we applaud NMG for making progress on an issue that so many consumers care deeply about.”
