A group of protestors interrupted the 2015 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards with a large banner that targeted Ralph Lauren for its supposed links to human rights abuses and deforestation.
The banner, held by activists part of the Rainforest Action Network’s (RAN) Out of Fashion campaign at the CFDA Awards, featured a parody of the Ralph Lauren logo. The protestors want Ralph Lauren to use only forest-friendly fabrics in all its pieces.
"Every year, millions of trees are turned into clothing through the use of forest fabrics like rayon and viscose," said Brihannala Morgan, senior forest campaigner with RAN. "This scandal has been hidden in plain sight for too long, but no more. The time has come for the fashion industry, and in particular Ralph Lauren, to take responsibility for its impacts on people and the planet and to publicly adopt binding policies that prevent deforestation, human rights abuses and climate pollution from being woven into the fabrics Americans wear everyday."
Morgan added that other brands—Stella McCartney and H&M—have taken the necessary steps to fix this problem, but Ralph Lauren has yet to follow suit. He also said that Ralph Lauren, given that it's one of the "biggest fashion brands in the world," has the "ability and resources to ensure that human rights abuses and forest destruction won’t be a part of their next collection."
In addition to the physical protest at the Lincoln Centre where the CFDA Awards was held, RAN called out Ralph Lauren via Twitter.
Hey @RalphLauren, want recognition for something bigger than #CFDAAwards? Eliminate deforestation, human rights abuses from your fabric.
— RAN (@RAN) June 1, 2015
Supporters of the campaign also voiced their opinions on Twitter.
@RalphLauren, strive for something bigger than #CFDAAwards Your fabrics cause deforestation and human rights abuses pic.twitter.com/3ox6VxMxCB
— Joan Milford (@Onegreystray) June 1, 2015
Sorry @RalphLauren I love your products...but I love orangutans more. at #CFDAAwards. pic.twitter.com/EESBdXBmj5
— Angelique St.Pierre (@Angelique_SP) June 1, 2015
Ralph Lauren is one of 15 brands targeted by RAN's Out of Fashion campaign. Other labels under fire include Prada, LVMH, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Vince, Guess, Velvet, L Brands, Forever 21, Under Armour, Footlocker, Abercrombie and Fitch, GAIAM, and Beyond Yoga.
We've reached out to Ralph Lauren for a comment.