PETA protest outside new Cambridge Urban Outfitters shop on opening day

Animal rights campaigners are protesting outside Cambridge’s new Urban Outfitters store this afternoon (06/05).

The protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) gathered at midday outside the new Sidney Street store, which opens today, to pressure the company into dropping animal products from its fashion lines.

In a recent statement from PETA given to Cambridgeshire Live, PETA accuse Urban Outfitters of using alpaca fleece, wool, leather, cashmere, mohair, down and silk, “each a product of extreme violence, cruelty, and fear.” To reflect these accusations, the demonstrators are wearing animal outfits, including a sheep, a cow, a goat and an alpaca.

Graphic signs showing animals are also being held up by the protesters, along with the words, “Urban Outfitters: Animals Are Not Clothing.”

PETA director, Elisa Allen, said: “Urban Outfitters brands want to reach progressive young people with their designs – but selling the skin, hair, and feathers of tormented animals will get them nowhere.

“Any material that’s taken from an animal is a product of fear, and PETA is calling on Urban Outfitters to be true to its commitment to sustainability and ethical standards by selling only animal-friendly vegan fabrics, which it already stocks.”

As part of its international campaign against Urban Outfitter Inc, PETA US became a company shareholder last year.

Urban Outfitters Inc owns this new shop on Sidney Street, as well as the recently opened Anthropologie on Market Hill. 

Feature image credit: Ella Fisher