Vogue Says Goodbye to Fur — Why It Matters

This past month marks a historic shift in the fashion industry: Vogue and its parent company Condé Nast have announced that no new animal fur will be featured in any editorial content or advertising across their publications, from Vogue and Vanity Fair to GQ and The New Yorker.

The updated guidelines make “defined exceptions” only for byproducts of subsistence and Indigenous practices, but otherwise signal a decisive break from an era when fur symbolised luxury, power and status.

A Turning Point for Fashion’s Most Influential Voice

For decades, Vogue has been the ultimate tastemaker, what it endorsed shaped runways, closets, and culture. To see this institution now take a stand against animal fur is more than a policy update; it’s a profound cultural moment. It confirms what activists, designers, and ethical consumers have been saying for years: fur has no place in modern fashion.

Animals are not materials. They are sentient beings with the right to their own lives, not commodities for coats or accessories.

The Slow Death of Fur

Fur’s decline has been steady. Since the 2010s, brands such as Gucci, Prada, Versace, Michael Kors, Canada Goose and Net-a-Porter have all pledged to go fur-free. Elle banned fur from all its international editions in 2021. Meanwhile, fur farming itself is now illegal in more than a dozen countries, including the UK, Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Norway. In 2021, Israel became the first country to ban sales of new fur altogether.

And yet, demand persists. According to Humane Society International, millions of foxes, minks, raccoon dogs and rabbits are still killed every year for their pelts. The majority live and die on fur farms, confined in barren battery cages, deprived of space, stimulation, and any semblance of natural life.

The Industry Pushback

The change follows a nine-month campaign led by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT), which organized demonstrations outside Condé Nast events and the homes of Vogue editors. Their pressure paid off: Condé Nast confirmed the new guidelines in late October 2025, signalling a new baseline of ethics in luxury publishing.

Even so, Vogue’s relationship with fur has long been controversial. Former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was a known fur supporter, once stating that fake fur was “more of a polluter than real fur.” Her departure earlier this year and the rise of a new generation of editors appear to have opened the door for change.

The Power of Culture

Fur has long been wrapped up in notions of power and femininity, think Sharon Stone’s iconic Casino look or the recent TikTok “mob wife” trend that briefly revived fur aesthetics among Gen Z. Vogue itself published essays questioning whether even vintage fur could be considered ethical. Now, its decision draws a clear line in the sand.

Beyond Trends

This moment is not just about what’s in or out of fashion. It’s about redefining what fashion means. An industry that once built status on suffering is learning to build beauty on empathy, creativity and innovation instead.

The future of fashion will be cruelty-free, not because it’s trendy, but because it’s right.