- African safaris provided the inspiration for Dolce &
Gabbana's latest collection - but its extravagant use of python and zebra
skin is likely to provoke concern.
-
- There were zebra-skin hats, bags and boots in the show
at Milan Fashion Week yesterday. And the distinctive diamond markings of
one of the world's longest snakes appeared on everything from bags and
boots to ballet pumps and Worzel Gummidge hats.
-
- Python - which is cheaper than crocodile - is the current
luxe obsession. To underline its importance in the fashion firmament, the
British supermodel Naomi Campbell had been chosen to open the show in a
shiny python corset-dress, trimmed with black lace.
-
- Models paraded past wearing trenchcoats in python, decorated
with silver chains and sequins; jeans featuring side-stripes of python;
lace shirt-dresses with python collars and pockets; and python boots embellished
with crystals.
-
- Dolce & Gabbana are the latest in a list of international
designer labels - including Roberto Cavalli, Gianfranco Ferre, Calvin Klein,
Chloe, Luella Bartley and Oscar de la Renta - who are promoting python
as a status luxury item.
-
- The design duo Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce said
yesterday that the python skins were legitimately farmed. The zebra skins,
they added, were not from a protected species or from either of the two
endangered species - the Mounted and the Grevy's zebra.
-
- WWF, the wildlife charity, fears that the trend for python
skin could prove disastrous for one of the world's least-threatening snakes.
-
- Although all designers say that the python used is sustainably
farmed, there is also a thriving illegal trade, involving forged export
permits. Last week Chris Shepherd - a leading expert on the sustainable
exploitation of reptiles - warned that the amount of skins being used in
the industry indicates that many of the snakes come from the wild. Farmed
python was much more costly to produce, he said.
-
- Andrew Butler, of People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA), urged the public not to buy animal skins.
-
- "It is difficult with animals like crocodiles and
snakes because they are not seen as cuddly," he said. "But they
still have the same capacity to suffer. They often suffer extremely slow
and agonising deaths. Snakes are often skinned alive."
-
- David Cowdrey, spokesman for the WWF, said that the public
must be vigilant about the source of animal skins.
-
- "Make sure you know where it is coming from,"
he said. "The extra pressure put on species can be make or break for
them and all for a fashion accessory."
-
- The Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre also took a walk
on the wild side in his spring/summer 2005 collection.
-
- Bustiers were fashioned from python, punched and detailed
to look like lace; python halter-necks, suspended from gilt rings, came
with matching python pencil skirts; an entire crocodile skin cinched the
waist over a black lace camisole; and python jackets were dyed in harlequin
patterns, mixed with zebra and cheetah-print chiffon and jersey.
-
- Silk safari-style jackets were fastened with duffle coat
toggles made from warthog tusks. Accessories included python and zebra
platform sandals and warthog tusk medallions.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2004/1
0/02/wfash02.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/10/02/ixworld.html
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