LIMA: Animal rights advocates across the globe are condemning the beginning of what Brazil's fashion industry hopes will become a trend: fur bikinis. The anger is nowhere stronger than in South America, where a group of university students in Peru hope to highlight their anger by going “fur-less” in protest. “We are going to go naked down the streets in the near future if these fur bikinis actually happen because this yet another sign of animal cruelty in the fashion industry,” Daniela Ogoso told Bikyamasr.com. “We can show off our bodies and don't need to kill and murder for it.” At the Rio Fashion Show 2012 a few models were strolled out with fur bikinis, which sparked much attention, including the head of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) Mark Oaten. he believes that fur, and its bikini part, can help continue to boost global sales in fur, much to the anger and disappointment of animal rights activists. “The knack of any industry is to spot where the next market is," said Oaten, whose key targets are Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and — despite some scepticism in the business — Brazil. “We know Brazil is going to be an economic powerhouse, we know Brazil loves its fashion — this is the market in my judgement. “This industry tends to follow where the wealth is. Our product has always been associated with the cold. But now our product has changed, and we are able to follow the wealth into warm climates," he said. With new types of fur being promoted including colored, lightweight, trim, they are making the industry less dependent on the cold season. “We will not sell grandma's fur coat in Brazil. We are selling fashion," Oaten explained. But here in South America, women are leading the charge against the fur industry gaining a foothold in the region. These university students in Lima are adamant that fur and animal cruelty should have no place among fashion. “If we have to make a statement and show our bits, then so be it. Ending this disgusting and murderous business is more important than people seeing our naked bodies,” added Ogoso. Every year, about 50 million animals are cruelly killed for their fur. In order to make just one fur coat, dozens of animals are slaughtered and skinned, which has shown the horrors of the fashion industry, animal rights activists told Bikyamasr.com.
