Twiggy Asks: 'Would You Wear Your Dog?'
| Twiggy and Jasmine for PETA |
The world of fashion would be an entirely different place without the influence of legendary '60s icon Twiggy Lawson. The model, award-winning actor and singer who celebrated her 60th birthday in 2009 still retains a strong influence on women around the world. That's why we were thrilled when she agreed to pose with cute rescue dog Jasmine in our newest anti-fur ad which was released in time for London Fashion Week.
Twiggy, who shot to fame as "The Face of '66" with her big, beautiful eyes, slender figure, short hair and Mary Quant "mod" style, knows that when it comes to fur, there are always fashion victims. The slaughter of animals for their fur can never be fashionable, and The Boy Friend star wants everyone to know that the only difference between our "best friends" and animals killed for their fur is how we treat them.
Every year, millions of animals – including foxes, minks, rabbits, chinchillas and even dogs and cats – are kept in crowded, filthy wire cages, only to be drowned, bludgeoned, strangled, electrocuted and often skinned alive so that their fur can be made into clothing and accessories. In the wild, animals trapped in steel-jaw traps can suffer in pain for days, often gnawing at their own limbs in an attempt to break free.
Check out our interview with the queen of style herself:
Why did you decide to star in an anti-fur ad for PETA?
PETA do wonderful work, and I am always very happy to help their causes whenever I can.
You rose to fame in the '60s, and as most models did, you wore fur. When did you first become aware of the cruelty involved in the fur trade?
I'm ashamed to say I did wear fur in the mid-60s, but I blame my ignorance and youth. Since the age of about 20 when I became aware of the cruelty involved in the fur trade, I made the decision never to wear fur again. I have been totally opposed to wearing fur ever since, and I do all I can to help organisations like PETA that work to stop this cruelty.
In addition to being an actor, model and author, you are a designer. Do you always make a point of telling companies that you refuse to use fur in your designs?
Absolutely. No fur is ever used in my Twiggy line of clothes for Littlewoods. Also, as an actor, I refuse to have fur in any productions I might be involved in.
Are there any other animal issues that are particularly close to your heart?
There are a few animal charities I try to help. One is the Greyhound Trust. They do a wonderful job helping to find homes for these beautiful, gentle creatures after they are dumped by the racing business, usually around the age of 3 or 4. I also support the Dogs Trust – an organisation that does a wonderful job finding homes for abandoned dogs.
Do you have any animal companions? If so, can you tell us a bit about them?
I have a beautiful black cat called Titania whom I love and adore. She runs the house! She came, she purred, she conquered.
*****
Help Twiggy spread the word that animals should never be fashion victims. Donate any old furs that you might have lurking in your wardrobe to PETA, share this ad and encourage all your friends to take the pledge to be fur-free.
Twiggy wants you to stop buying and wearing fur now. Join her today by taking our pledge to be fur-free!
Pledge to Be Fur-Free!
I won't support an industry that causes animals a lifetime of suffering and a cruel and painful death. No animals will be tortured and killed just so that I can wear them. By signing my name, I pledge to be fur-free.
