Pitchfork

As a wise man once said, we all suffer for fashion or whatever. That said, there's really no reason the same fate should befall our furry friends as well.

Despite the many fine synthetic alternatives at their disposal, some folks still feel it necessary to wear the fur of dead animals for the purposes of looking silly. British fashion house Burberry-- known for that plaid pattern, and, um, costing a lot-- still employs real fur in its clothes, and some folks aren't too pleased about it. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are, of course, chief among them, noting that "on fur farms, animals are killed by poisoning, anal electrocution, and gassing. These cruel methods are ineffective, and animals often wake up while they're being skinned."

PETA's youth-oriented peta2 offshoot has gathered the signatures and support of several of the UK's finest musicians in protest of Burberry's use of fur. Super Furry Animals, the Wombats-- both of whom are acting in their own self-interest, no doubt-- Art Brut, Los Campesinos!, the Rakes, the Maccabees, Good Shoes, Jack Penate, Friendly Fires, Jamie T, and the Courteeners are among those who've signed the Peta2 petition here, which you can do as well with the swipe of your mouse. [Via NME.com.]

Not only that, but several of the musicians involved have issued statements casting aspersions on Burberry specifically and the fur practice in general. Art Brut's Eddie Argos opines, "I don't understand why anyone would wear fur. Everyone knows how animals are killed for their fur is brutal-- it all comes down to vanity, which is pretty sad." And this is clearly a dude who knows a little bit about vanity.

peta2 writes, "The crème de la crème of the British music crop are with peta2 on the animals' side, and in the Burberry corner, we have, umm … oh, what's his name? You know, that old bloke from 'Poxy Music' or 'Roxy Music' or whatever and his fox-hunting son." That would be referring to Bryan Ferry, who has modeled for Burberry. Also on Burberry's side: Patrick Wolf, clearly a masochist.