We recently partnered with the popular fashion competition show Project Runway on an episode that celebrates the beauty of animals as muses, not materials.
On this newly released episode, designers were challenged to create a runway look inspired by animals and the habitats they call home using animal-free materials exclusively. The challenge demonstrated that creativity is limitless and particularly poignant when motivated by compassion.
Fashion has long been inspired by the beauty of nature and animals in the creation and adoption and adaptation of textures, aesthetics and movement. But all too often, that respect and admiration is lost when it comes to the materials we use, not only impacting the lives of countless animals but also the places they call home.
Wearing our hearts on our sleeves
The personal connection we have to the clothes we wear should rightfully align with our values. And now the fashion industry is flourishing with new, innovative alternatives to fur and skins that have the same look and feel as its counterparts but without the risks of being associated with animal cruelty and environmental degradation.
Partnering with Project Runway has given us an enormous platform to show just how easy it is to be stylish while also staying true to our love for animals.
To help the Project Runway designers navigate their cruelty-free designs, we couldn’t be more excited to have our friend and design guru Christian Siriano serving as their mentor again this season. Humane World for Animals had the privilege of working with the designer during last year’s New York Fashion Week where he unveiled multiple pieces on the runway that featured our newly redesigned logo.
And to celebrate animals even more during the episode (if that’s even possible), the winning contestant received a Humane Journeys adventure where they'll get to experience nature, animals and our work firsthand.
Small steps can make big impact for animals
On Project Runway, the message was clear: We share the world with animals who are beautiful, fascinating and worthy of being valued, protected and celebrated. Each of us has a role to play in creating a more humane world; we can make small decisions in our daily lives that can make a big difference for animals.
With Christian Siriano leading the way, the Project Runway designers created beautiful looks without adverse impact on the lives of animals. And we can all make similar choices in what we buy and wear that embody compassion, not cruelty.
Through our campaign to end the fur trade, we have learned how important it is to form partnerships within fashion that can bridge the gap between people, who clearly care about the well-being of animals, and businesses seeking to align their design and policy choices to reach those people.
The conviction that animals matter continues to get stronger and innovative material alternatives continue to improve in quality and sustainability. Now, increasingly, it’s on fashion industry leaders to show that they can deliver beautiful results that can match people’s compassionate styles.
P.S. The episode’s messaging might have reached the show’s host as well. A little over a week after taping the Humane World for Animals episode of Project Runway, Heidi Klum proudly adopted an adorable puppy named Fritz from a shelter near the studio. The lucky pup never leaves her side, so congratulations to Fritz and Heidi for finding one another.
You can watch this special episode, streaming now: Project Runway Season 22 airs on Freeform on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. Eastern and is available on Freeform, Hulu and Disney+.
Kitty Block is president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. Follow Kitty Block.
