Come 2021, You Won't Find This in Macy's Anymore

If you're accustomed to browsing for mink stoles, fur coats, and other fur-trimmed apparel at Macy's or Bloomingdale's, you'll soon have to find a new retailer to fill those needs. CBS News and the New York Times report on a Monday press release from Macy's that outlines its fur policy, and the upshot is: There pretty much isn't going to be any of it anymore. Macy's and Bloomingdale's will stop selling most of the animal product by the end of fiscal year 2020, with the exception of fur that's "a byproduct of domestic farming to feed our society," per guidelines put out by the Fur Free Alliance. That includes sheep fur products said to be "ethically sourced" (so what we know as "shearling" or "sheepskin"), as well as cattle fur ("calf hair" and "cowhide"). Faux fur products will also still be available for sale.

So why the big move? "Our customer is migrating away from natural fur and we are aligning with this trend" is how the release explains it. Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette elaborates. "Over the past two years, we have been closely following consumer and brand trends, listening to our customers and researching alternatives to fur," he says, per CBS. "Macy's private brands are already fur free, so expanding this practice across all [stores and affiliates] is the natural next step." PJ Smith, who oversees the Humane Society's fashion policy, notes it's a step in the right direction. "It's just a changing tide," he tells the Times, adding that Macy's is the first major department store to go this route. "Consumers care about animal welfare more and more, and the idea of luxury is changing." (More Macy's stories.)