Michael Kors is failing lambs – and failing consumers. In a new FOUR PAWS investigation, detailed in the report “Behind the Wool: Transparency on Live Lamb Cutting in Fashion”, the luxury fashion brand ranks worst among 100+ brands for transparency and action on live lamb cutting (LLC is also known as mulesing) – a brutal and outdated mutilation found in half of global wool in fashion.
It’s time for Michael Kors to commit to wool free from live lamb cutting.
What is live lamb cutting (LLC)? (click to reveal)
Every year, 10 million lambs suffer excruciating pain due to LLC. LLC is a practice where lambs as young as two weeks old have skin, bigger than the palm of your hand, and flesh cut from around their tails and genitals, without adequate pain relief. Despite effective alternatives, the fashion industry continues to source wool from this cruelty.
FOUR PAWS’ latest report reveals:
In 2025, FOUR PAWS investigated 102 brands in eleven countries through in-store visits and online research to assess:
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Michael Kors: Luxury without accountability (click to reveal more)
Michael Kors, the iconic American fashion brand founded in 1981 in New York by designer Michael David Kors, has grown into a global powerhouse with over 1,000 stores and $3B in annual revenue, but when it comes to animal welfare, the brand is falling behind. Known for its luxury apparel and accessories, the brand is selling large volumes of wool items. Despite its scale and influence, Michael Kors has no policy on live lamb cutting (LLC) – the most severe and outdated routine mutilation of lambs in the wool industry. This is alarming given that LLC is involved in over half of global wool production. Without action, brands like Michael Kors risk enabling cruelty in their supply chains.
While competitors like Burberry and Calvin Klein are committed to use only certified LLC-free wool, Michael Kors remains silent and resistant to change. It's time for Michael Kors to take responsibility and commit to wool free from live lamb cutting.
Michael Kors has ignored FOUR PAWS’ outreach, failed to disclose measures in their wool sourcing policy, and has not committed to certified LLC-free wool. This lack of action places the brand at the bottom of the industry when it comes to animal welfare.
Live lamb cutting (LLC) is only practised in Australia and is the world’s top wool exporter for apparel. This outdated practice results in the unimaginable suffering of millions of innocent lambs. Hundreds of thousands do not even survive this mutilation. Driven by global wool demand, this painful procedure is used to prevent flystrike, but safe, pain-free alternatives already exist and are used by thousands of farmers.
LLC is not a necessary evil; it’s a choice. Fashion brands can choose certified LLC-free wool and help end this cruelty. It’s up to us to demand better: protecting lambs starts with holding brands accountable.
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