With two e-commerce channels and over 60 stores in New Zealand and Australia, Macpac has joined the long list of brands that have banned mohair after PETA's investigation of the mohair industry in South Africa which is the source of over 50 percent of the world's mohair. "No animal deserves to be treated so poorly," said Macpac CEO Alex Brandon after viewing PETA's footage of workers mutilating goats. "We are very happy to commit to never using mohair at Macpac now or in the future." Mohair workers are paid by volume, not by hour, meaning the work is quick and careless and resulting in angora goats with gaping wounds which are roughly stitched up. Unwanted goats die in agony as one worker in the video slowly cuts the goat's throat with a dull knife and then broke its neck. He continued to hack one animal's head off. Others were hauled to an abattoir where they were electrically shocked, hung upside down and slashed across the throat.
"PETA's exposé pulled back the curtain on abuse in the mohair industry, revealing that gentle baby goats cried out in fear and pain as they were shorn for mohair jumpers and scarves," explained PETA spokesperson Emily Rice. "Macpac has joined the growing list of fashion brands that recognise that today's shoppers don't support cruelty to animals." In August, South Africa's National Council of SPCAs filed cruelty-to-animals charges against four angora goat farmers based on PETA Asia's evidence. The national police force is investigating the farmers – as well as shearers and other farmworkers.
Macpac's policy against stocking mohair is effective immediately.
