Peta reveals horrific conditions behind the production of Hermès’s Birkin bag

London – Hermès Birkin handbags have enjoyed something of a cult status for
a long time now. A fuchsia-colored crocodile-skin Birkin bag recently broke
all records and became the most expensive handbag sold in auction at
Christie’s, selling for an astonishing . But most
consumers remain in the dark in regards as to how the handbags are made –
and where the exotic crocodile and alligator skins come from.

In spite of Hermès claims in its 2014 Annual Report that they are “an
attentive, concerned and committed company which conducts its business in a
way that respects its ecological, social, economic and cultural
environment,” a new exposé released by animals rights organization People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) focused on farms that supply
crocodile and alligator skins to Hermès-owned tanneries reveals the
disturbingly horrific conditions in which the reptiles live and die in. The
undercover reportage uncovered several cases of direct animal abuse and
cruelty, as well as violations of US state and federal laws at an alligator
farms in Texas and Zimbabwe.

Hermès reptile skin suppliers fail to comply with US state and federal
laws

At the Lone Star Alligator Farms in Winnie, Texas, alligators and
crocodiles are trapped inside barren and overly crowded pits for up to nine
months before being killed for their skin. A US Peta investigator filmed
workers shooting alligators in the head, some multiple times, with a
captive-bolt gun and viciously hacking into the back of their necks with a
box cutter in an attempt to server their blood vessels in a crude effort to
kill them. Footage showed many animals surviving the appalling attack and
still moving in ice-water bins for several minutes.

When the captive-bolt used to stun the alligators seemed to malfunction,
the facility manager told workers to cut into the hundreds of still
conscious alligators and attempt to dislocate their vertebrae using the
blade and then forceful stick a metal rod up their spinal columns to try
and scramble their brains.The manager later told the investigator that even
the successful dislocation of an alligator’s cervical vertebrae will not
kill the animal and that the reptiles will continue to live unless pithed
with a pithing rod. In spite of the reptiles being restrained, they still
moved their limbs and tails when being cut into.

According to Hermès, “the group selects suppliers who are at the forefront
of their speciality, and who are exemplary not only in terms of the quality
of their products and services but also in their social and environmental
policies.” However, judging by the footage captured by Peta US
investigator, it would seem that the luxury brand has failed to uphold its
strict selection process of suppliers. “Hermès wants consumers to believe
it’s in the luxury business, but behind every Birkin and Kelly bag is a
lifetime of misery and violent death,” commented a spokesperson for Peta UK
to FashionUnited. “Once consumers see how alligators were hacked with a
knife – in some cases, while still conscious and able to feel pain – or
live in filthy, barren concrete tanks until they’re stripped of their skin,
most compassionate shoppers will want nothing to do with a brand that
profits from such cruelty.”

‘Most compassionate shoppers want nothing to do with a brand that
profits from such cruelty’

In addition to the footage captured on the reptile farm in Texas, film
footage from Padenga Holdings crocodile farms in Kariba, Zimbabwe, one of
the largest Nile crocodile-farming operations in the world and another of
Hermès’s exotic skin suppliers, shows concrete pits filled with as many as
220 crocodiles without adequate water and/or dry land. The company
reportedly owns 50 percent of the Texas business. “Peta’s exposé of Hermès’
suppliers in the US and Africa reveals that every Hermès watchband or
Birkin bag means a living, feeling being experienced a miserable life and a
ghastly death,” said Peta Director Mimi Bekhechi. “People pay thousands of
pounds for such accessories, but the reptiles on these cruel and disgusting
factory farms are paying the real price.”

Peta is currently asking all of its supporters and anyone who shocked at
the luxury label’s treatment of reptiles to contact Hermès and ask them to
stop selling items made from crocodile and alligator skins. In addition to
requesting Hermès halt its sales of exotic animal skin products, Peta US is
also “purchasing stock in Hermès in order to present shareholder
resolutions asking for improved conditions for animals at its supplier
facilities as well as more humane handling and slaughter methods,” added
the spokesperson.

“Peta US is also purchasing shares of Padenga Holdings Limited to request
that crocodiles are shot with a captive-bolt device during the attempted
slaughter. Since Padenga owns 50 per cent of Lone Star Alligator Farm, Peta
US will also request that alligators are slaughtered with a properly
functioning captive-bolt device and by properly trained workers, that the
housing conditions for the alligators are brought up to code and that
workers receive protective equipment. Peta has submitted detailed
complaints and evidence to local, state and federal agencies, and
confidential investigations are underway.”

Images: Peta, 2014

Warning: Graphic images

Click Here: pandora Bangle cheap