A group of protesters crashed the Coach Spring 2024 ready-to-wear fashion show at New York Fashion Week on Thursday.
According to a PETA press release, the protesters included an animal rights supporter and “two other animal advocates” who interrupted the show to “criticize the brand for its cruelty to cows and reliance on environmentally destructive leather products.”
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One of the protesters walked the runway during Thursday night’s show covered in body paint with the words “Coach Leather Kills” scrawled across her chest.
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Another walked behind her in a tan two-piece with a sign that had the same message written in large red and black letters. The moment was captured in an Instagram video he shared New York Magazine‘with Cut.
In the video, the women are seen walking down the runway briefly before being escorted away by security. The outlet shared the video with the caption, “Runway crashers!!! A little extra skin on display in the middle of the @coach show… what a way to start the week. #NYFW.”
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Speaking about the decision to protest the show, PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a press release, “Today’s conscientious consumers know that the future of fashion lies in innovative vegan materials, not cut cowhide.”
“PETA is rocking Coach’s catwalk to say that leather belongs in the annals of history, not in the designer’s current collections,” the statement added.
The coach did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
New York Fashion Week currently runs through September 13 and is slated to feature more than 71 designers. Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) CEO Steven Kolb spoke of the event’s importance, sharing in a press release that it is “an integral part of New York’s vibrant culture and sense of constant evolution and discovery.”
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“This season’s official New York Fashion Week lineup lives up to that sentiment and will once again showcase the best of American fashion, both emerging and established,” the statement added. “We’re excited to see the return of Ralph Lauren, Jonathan Cohen, and 3.1 Phillip Lim on the runway in New York, adding to the energy of the week.”
The show was attended by many celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Camila Mendes, Lil Nas X and more, all sitting in the front row.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education