Fashion house Kofler operates like hunters – without ethics or morals

With the campaign «Real Fur – Real Cruel», the Zurich Animal Protection organisation once again exposes serious labelling deficiencies at the Lucerne fashion house Kofler, despite its promises to do better in 2017.

Yet Kofler disregards both laws and ethical values as well as animal welfare – only profit matters. Despite a social media backlash on Facebook, Kofler continues to sell torture fur, thereby committing a betrayal of its customers.

Serious legal violations criticised in 2017

In November 2017, the Zurich Animal Protection organisation found that 25 out of 44 real fur items (57%) in two Lucerne branches of Kofler carried no labelling whatsoever regarding species, origin, or method of production, and criticised these legal violations in a press release as well as on the consumer affairs programme Kassensturz on 5 December 2017. Kofler assured Kassensturz that it would promptly rectify the missing declarations. However, Kofler ignored the advisory offers made by the Zurich Animal Protection organisation.

Massive labelling deficiencies conceal the atrocities

Following reports of grievances, the Zurich Animal Protection organisation visited the branch on Pilatusstrasse on 8 December 2018. Notably: Kofler continues to disregard the law. Of 26 items with fur trim, 23 were without species or origin labelling (88%)! Everything simply read: «May originate from trap hunting or hunting without traps, or from any possible farming method, including cage farming». This vague, non-committal text conceals the cruel truth. Animal suffering apparently holds no interest for Kofler: The three correctly labelled fur items originate from cage farming in China, a country notorious for the most brutal animal cruelty and live skinning.

Kofler fails to keep its promises – all lies and deception!

The mandatory labelling requirement is intended to expose the torturous practices of the fur industry. Yet Kofler is preventing transparency. This contradicts last year's promises made to Kassensturz. Kofler also promises “high quality” on its website, but does not count ethics and animal welfare among its criteria. The fashion house boasts its expertise, yet is unable to label items correctly. There is talk of a “feel for trending styles” — but real fur is out, faux fur is in. This trend was clearly missed.

Shitstorm ignored: burying one's head in the sand

At the end of October, a former customer posted the faulty fur labelling on Facebook, triggering an online backlash. Kofler did not respond and refused to comment on media inquiries either. Whatever happened to the company’s much-praised expertise? Social responsibility is evidently not part of it. Facebook was flooded with harsh criticism and calls for a boycott, because while the fashion house “shares its enthusiasm for its product range with customers”, it apparently has no interest in sharing their outrage.

FSVO fights labelling deficiencies — local support needed

The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), responsible for enforcing fur labelling regulations, has employed one person for in-store inspections since September 2018. Given the scale of deficiencies across Switzerland, one must ask whether an 80% position is sufficient. It would be helpful if the FSVO were to delegate inspections to local authorities, such as the Zurich City Police and other police forces.

Pressure on unscrupulous companies

Many customers feel betrayed by Kofler. Nadja Brodmann from the Zurich Animal Protection Society is also outraged by the unconscionable pursuit of profit: “We have reported Kofler to the FSVO and hope for swift action. Experience shows that unscrupulous companies only label their products correctly after coming under massive pressure through public criticism, persistent inspections, or the threat of fines.”