NEW YORK — For the second consecutive spring, Parsons The New School for Design will give People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals equal billing with fur-funded designs. But this time around, juniors, not seniors, are being courted.
As part of the school’s Designer Critic Project, Marc Bouwer will tout his fur-free ways to any interested students in the junior class. He is expected to teach about 20 students how to work with fake fur and other animal-friendly materials.
On another front, PETA director Dawn Carr addressed Parsons’ 160-member student body Friday and showed them a video that detailed how animals are killed for the fur, leather and wool trades.
Department chair Timothy Gunn, who initiated the PETA partnership last year, said, “I think this is a very complicated issue, frankly. Students need to be responsible in their decision-making. They can choose what they choose. But they need to know what they’re doing.”
In addition to providing information about its animal-friendly ways, PETA will provide fake fur and other nonanimal materials to students for their designs. A PETA spokesman declined to say what the group’s financial commitment will be, since an exact number of students has not yet been determined.
Gunn said bringing PETA into the fold last year was an epiphany, and his only regret was not doing it sooner.
“I just believe as an academic institution, this is the socially responsible thing to do to make students aware [of all their choices.] We’re not saying they can’t use fur or they can’t use leather. Where would the fashion industry be without luxury goods made from fur and leather?” Gunn said.
He also noted that fur and fake fur designs were featured on the runway at Parsons’ annual senior fashion show last year. The same will be true at this year’s fashion show by juniors. By focusing on the junior class, the aim is to impact them before they start working on their senior thesis, Gunn said.
As for being wary of any repercussions from the school’s program, he said, “If we can’t facilitate and mitigate these conversations in an academic community, where can we do it?”