Castro gives in to anti-fur campaign

Castro clothing store chain removes all fur products from shelves after Ynet revealed that company continued to sell fur clothing products despite promise to Let Animals Live that chain would ‘discontinue the marketing of fur products by the end of November 2005’
Shlomi Donner

Public pressure wins over: The Castro clothing store chain removed on Tuesday all of its fur products from the shelves after Ynet revealed that the company continued to sell fur clothing products despite a promise to Let Animals Live that the chain would “discontinue the marketing of fur products by the end of November 2005.”

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Following Ynet’s inquiry, a Castro spokesman said, "Castro stands by its promise and has removed products made entirely from fur from all stores, but our 2006 winter collection contains some items featuring fur trimmings such as neck lines or hat bands.

“These items will be sold until the end of the winter season. But in keeping with our promise, Castro has discontinued design and production of fur products and fur trimmings. Beginning next winter, there will be no fur products at Castro," said the spokesman.

The fight with Castro began several months ago, after the company presented its winter collection and announced it included fox and rabbit fur products. Since then, animal rights activists have demonstrated against the company and called for a boycott of its products.

Some two months ago the company announced it would stop marketing clothes that contain fur when supply ran out, but activists demanded the company pull the offending products off the shelves immediately.

Following protests outside Castro outlets around the country, especially at the main branch in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center mall, and meetings between animal rights activists and company executives, Castro announced it would pull fur products off the shelves at the end of November.