Animal rights campaigners stage protest against real fur outside Tessuti store in Ipswich

Protestors outside the Ipswich branch of Tessuti. Picture: ARCHANT Archant

More than a dozen protestors gathered outside an Ipswich store today after it was revealed the shop was selling clothing made from coyote and raccoon fur.

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Animal rights campaigners in Ipswich town centre. Picture: SADIE CABLE Animal rights campaigners in Ipswich town centre. Picture: SADIE CABLE

It was the second protest outside clothing store Tessuti, in Westgate Street, which sells a range of brands that incorporate animal fur into their designs.

These include Parajumper and Canada Goose, a brand that has gained notoriety after a spurt of protests in London.

Picket organiser and first-time protester, Victoria Petchey said: “It’s just disgusting. We’ve been talking to a lot of people this morning, most of them have been really supportive.

“I’d been reading about the protests in London about the Canada Goose brand and someone told me that Tessuti sold it too.

More than a dozen campaigners carried out the protest with placards. Picture: SADIE CABLE More than a dozen campaigners carried out the protest with placards. Picture: SADIE CABLE

“I honestly could not believe it because I just did not think we would have anything like that in Ipswich.

“I looked online and I saw it. They proudly list rabbit, coyote and racoon as part of their descriptions.

“I still didn’t want to believe it so I went in the shop and I saw all the Parajumper coats with fur hoods.

“It just makes me so sad and I just wanted to do something about it so that people knew.

“A lot of people probably assume it’s fake fur, but it is anything but.”

Victoria, 32, picketed the store last Saturday with two friends.

After their photographs gained attention on social media, they planned a bigger protest for today.

Around 20 supporters gathered outside the shop this morning.

A spokesperson for Tessuti, owned by JD Sports said in a statement: “We work with all our suppliers to ensure their supply chain complies with our ethical values as a business.

“As our customers are at the centre of what we do, we take any concerns raised through the appropriate channels into consideration when assessing our business relationships.”

Representatives at the Ipswich store declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Parajumpers confirmed they use coyote fur and racoon fur and said they source the fur from fur farms in Finland and ‘trappers’ in Canada.

They added: “Both the industries are highly regulated by regulators that ensure the highest welfare standard. Endangered species are never used.”

Canada Goose’s website states that their fur is ethically sourced.

A statement adds: “We understand and respect that some people think animal products should never be used in any consumer products, however we do not share that view.”

While PETA Director Elisa Allen said: “Canada Goose uses fur from coyotes who are caught in the wild, using steel jaw traps, which are so barbaric that they have been banned in the UK for decades.

“The trapped coyotes can suffer for days while facing blood loss, shock, dehydration, frostbite, gangrene, and attacks by predators.

“Mothers desperate to get back to their starving pups have even been known to chew through their own limbs in an attempt to escape.

“Animals who haven’t already died are often strangled, stamped on, or bludgeoned to death when the trapper returns.

“Coyotes not only look like dogs but also are equally sensitive, playful, and intelligent.

“We urge compassionate shoppers to shun cruelly produced jackets trimmed with coyote fur.”