Fashion Brands Push for Cruelty-Free Wool: Time to End Live Lamb Cutting

The Fight for Cruelty-Free Wool: Why Live Lamb Cutting Needs to End

Imagine if a painful, outdated practice was still being used in one of the biggest industries in the world—despite there being better, kinder alternatives. That’s exactly what’s happening in the wool industry, and now, over 100 global fashion brands are saying enough is enough.

Four Paws Credits: Four Paws

According to Fashion United, a massive movement led by the animal welfare group Four Paws has brought together brands like Zara, Patagonia, and Hugo Boss to demand an end to mulesing—a gruesome procedure where lambs have chunks of skin cut from their bodies without proper pain relief. This is happening to around 10 million lambs in Australia every year, and it’s all in the name of preventing fly infestations (flystrike).

Australia is the only country where this practice is still legal and widely used, which is a big deal because the country produces about 80% of the world’s fine merino wool. That means the global fashion industry has a huge role to play in pushing for change.

So what’s the alternative? Instead of putting lambs through this painful procedure, farmers can switch to breeding sheep that are naturally resistant to flystrike. Studies even suggest these sheep have higher survival rates. It’s a win-win for both the animals and the industry.

Rebecca Picallo Gil, who leads the wool campaign at Four Paws, sums it up perfectly: “The wool industry must evolve to meet the demands of modern brands and consumers who ask for cruelty-free fashion.”

The message is clear—shoppers and fashion brands alike are demanding wool that doesn’t come at the cost of animal suffering. With pressure mounting, it’s time for the industry to make the switch to a kinder, more sustainable future.