What could you really be paying for if you buy ‘Italian wool’ from J.Crew and others?

A PETA video exposé of two massive sheep farms in Chile reveals that gentle sheep were mutilated and then killed and skinned—sometimes while still alive—when they were no longer considered useful. After being privately alerted to the situation by PETA, Brooks Brothers made the decision not to purchase wool from a supplier associated with these farms.

It’s estimated that less than 1 percent of the world’s wool actually comes from sheep raised and sheared in Italy—for example, at least 30 percent of wool produced in Chile is sent to Italy—yet J.Crew, Coach, and other companies all over the world sell “luxury Italian wool” that belies its true origin and the cruelty involved in its production.

Here’s a little peek at what buying “Italian wool” could be supporting.