Woolrich Europe to go fur-free from January 1, 2027

In November 2025, the Woolrich brand was acquired for the European, Turkish and Russian Federation markets by Italian fashion group BasicNet. The acquisition has brought new momentum to Woolrich in Europe, leading the brand to join the fur-free initiative of the Fur Free Alliance, an association of 45 animal rights organisations active in over 30 countries.

International outerwear brand Woolrich Europe has now formally announced it is committed to stop using fur, and has joined the international Fur Free Retailer programme, supported by 1,700 brands and retailers worldwide. Woolrich has announced the decision after receiving over 200,000 e-mails from activists, with public demonstrations staged outside its stores throughout Europe.
 
Meanwhile, the European Commission is considering how to respond to the ‘Fur Free Europe’ initiative promoted by European citizens. The initiative has collected over 1.5 million signatures in favour of introducing a ban on the breeding of animals to produce fur, and on the marketing of fur products throughout the European Union.

Woolrich will stop producing new garments featuring animal fur by December 31, 2026, and will continue selling fur products until existing stocks run out. From January 1, 2027, all the new collections by Woolrich Europe will be fur-free. Woolrich’s European stores will join the brand’s fur-free initiative, and Woolrich Europe is working to extend this commitment to its extra-European business too.
 
Woolrich was founded in 1830 and is regarded as the oldest outdoor apparel company in the USA, having supplied garments for the American Civil War and various Antarctic expeditions. It currently operates 33 monobrand and outlet stores worldwide, of which 23 are in the EU.
 
During the fashion weeks in September 2025, the Fur Free Alliance launched an international campaign asking Woolrich to follow in the footsteps of some of its competitors, including Canada Goose, Moncler, Napapijri and Parajumpers, adopting a fur-free policy and stopping utilising fur from animals such as coyotes and raccoon dogs. Two months later, Italian group BasicNet announced it had acquired Woolrich Europe from Luxembourg-based investment fund L-Gam.

“By opting out of fur, Woolrich Europe is sending a message to the European Commission: Furs are the result of cruel practices and are no longer fashionable, and the time has come for the EU to definitively ban the breeding of animals to produce fur,” said Shely Bryan, head of the Fur Free programme at the Humane World for Animals charity, which is active in over 50 countries and was previously known as the Humane Society International. “Since 2014, we have witnessed an 86% reduction in the number of animals cruelly bred and killed for their fur. With more and more brands, such as Woolrich, choosing to give up fur, demand will decrease further,” she added.
 
Joh Vinding, president of the Fur Free Alliance, said: “It’s a true sign of the times when a brand that got its start making fur-trimmed coats for fur trappers is now going fur-free. Woolrich’s new owner BasicNet clearly understands that today’s consumers want nothing to do with an archaic and cruel fur industry and instead are demanding more ethical materials that are better for animals and the planet. Congratulations to BasicNet for seeing the writing on the wall and helping move Woolrich into the 21st century.”
 
In 2023, the Fur Free Alliance launched a similar campaign against Italian label Max Mara, with positive results. In recent years, the organisation has collaborated with leading labels like Gucci, Armani, Prada and Hugo Boss, contributing to the introduction of new corporate policies banning the use of fur.
 
The breeding of animals to produce fur is currently illegal in 24 European countries. Israel has banned the sale of furs, as have 16 cities in the USA and the entire state of California. Recently, Switzerland banned the import and sale of fur products “obtained through cruel practices.”