ONE of the world's largest retailers, Liz Claiborne, has banned Australian merino wool.
The company, with $US4.5bn ($6.74bn) in annual sales and owner of the Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand Jeans brands, is opposed to Australian farmers' use of mulesing on sheep.
Liz Claiborne's vice president of corporate communications Jane Randel revealed the company's plans in a letter sent to the US-based animal rights group leading the anti-mulesing campaign, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
"I'm writing to you regarding Liz Claiborne Inc's (LCI) progress moving away from Australian wool,'' Randel wrote.
"As you know, LCI is opposed to the mulesing mutilations that are performed by Australian woolgrowers, and as a result, has moved most of our Merino wool purchases to non-Australian sources.
"LCI is committed to completely eliminating Australian Merino wool from our supply chain, and hope to be free of Australian wool very soon.''
Mulesing involves slicing skin from a sheep's behind to protect it from maggot infestation.
The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) had pledged to phase out mulesing by 2010, but as the deadline approaches there have been moves to not adhere to the deadline.
Nike, Gap, Marks & Spencer and more than 10 other international retailing giants are also pressuring Australian wool farmers to dump a new "clip'' technique they hoped would satisfy animal rights activists.
"Like so many other retailers, Liz Claiborne recognises the urgent need to do away with all mulesing mutilations,'' Matt Prescott, director of PETA Corporate Affairs, said.
"We hope that other retailers will follow Liz's lead, and in light of AWI's recent statements about the 2010 deadline, we're now evaluating our campaign options for those that choose not to.''
