Indigenous Designs Does Not Approve of Mulesing of Merino Wool Sheep

After being contacted by PETA about the cruel practices of the Australian wool industry, where lambs are partially skinned alive during a procedure called "mulesing" and millions of sheep are shipped to horrible deaths every year in countries that have no animal welfare standards, California-based retailer Indigenous Designs has announced that it will not sell Australian merino wool until these practices end.

In a letter sent to PETA, Joshua Laytart from Indigenous Designs writes, "We feel the fair treatment of the planet and all the people and the animals which live on it to be our top priority. This is why Indigenous Designs does not support the practice of mulesing and the live exporting of sheep. ... Indigenous Designs does not intend to knowingly sell products using Australian merino wool until mulesing and live exporting of sheep has ended."

Mulesing is a painful mutilation in which Australian farmers use gardening shears to slice chunks of skin and flesh from lambs' backsides—without any painkillers—in a crude attempt to reduce maggot infestation, even though humane methods could be used instead. Every year, millions of Australian sheep are shipped to the Middle East in open-decked ships through all weather extremes, mired in their own waste, on journeys that take weeks. Sick and injured sheep are thrown overboard to the sharks or ground up alive in mincing machines. When the survivors reach the Middle East, their throats are slit while they are still conscious.

Indigenous Designs joins a fast-growing list of prestigious retailers and top fashion designers—including Abercrombie & Fitch, J.Crew, Timberland, and Limited Brands—that have announced that they will not use Australian merino wool until mulesing and live exports end.

Please write to Indigenous Designs to thank the company for its commitment to animal welfare:

Joshua Laytart
Indigenous Designs
975 Corporate Center Pkwy., #110
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
707-571-7702 (fax)
joshua@indigenousdesigns.com

Join Indigenous Designs in taking a stand against cruelty to animals by refusing to buy garments made from merino wool, most of which comes from Australia.

Order a free "Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing" to learn how you can help animals when you shop for clothing.

Find out how you can help save sheep by telling your community about the cruelty of Australian wool.

Watch PETA's video "Australia's Secret Shame" to see for yourself what happens to sheep down under.