Animal rights group Peta criticises Next for selling mohair suit modelled by Gary Lineker
High street retailer Next has come under fire from animal rights group PETA for selling a mohair suit modelled by popular presenter Gary Lineker.
Lineker, who has previously backed the group's campaigns, is featured online modelling the £225 Signature Barberis Italian Mohair Slim Fit Suit Jacket as part of his edit for the chain.
But PETA criticised the brand for using mohair in its clothing, saying it is "made from the hair of abused goats", and accusing it of profiteering.
The campaign group called on Next to remove mohair from all future collections and expand its use of animal-friendly vegan materials.
Yvonne Taylor, PETA’s Vice President of Corporate Projects, said: "Most shoppers would be disgusted that mohair jumpers and suits are made from the hair of abused goats who cry out in fear when they’re pinned down and their hair is scraped right out of their bodies with metal rakes, leaving them shaking and covered in bloody wounds."
Many fashion brands, including H&M, Zara, Topshop and Gap, have pledged to completely ban mohair due to concerns over its sourcing.
Next said it only uses mohair that is certified to the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) - a voluntary standard developed following a campaign by PETA in 2018 that requires all farmers and ranchers to meet strict animal welfare, land management and social requirements.
But Taylor accused the chain of now hiding behind an industry standard that she said still allowed the animals to be abused.
She added: "PETA has repeatedly shown that whenever animals are treated as mere disposable commodities, cruelty is always part of the process.
"The only next step is for the retailer to do the right thing: denounce the extreme cruelty it is profiting from, remove mohair from all future collections, and expand its use of animal-friendly vegan materials."
Football star Lineker has previously backed a campaign by PETA to ban Royal Guards from wearing bearskins, as well as campaigning against trophy hunting.
A statement from Next said: “NEXT only uses mohair that is certified to the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) in its products. All non-RMS certified mohair is banned at NEXT”.
Yahoo News UK has approached Lineker's agent for comment.
