MILAN — Outerwear specialist Woolrich is the latest brand to unveil a fur-free pledge, effective in 2027.
Starting in January, Woolrich will no longer use fur, including coyote and raccoon dog, in collections manufactured and sold in Europe.
The announcement was made in tandem with the Fur Free Alliance, a coalition of about 45 animal protection organizations across 30 countries. As part of the pledge, Woolrich has joined the Fur Free Retailer program, which counts about 1,700 brands and retailers worldwide.
The move aligns Woolrich, owned since late 2025 by the Italian group BasicNet, with fellow outerwear specialists including Moncler, Canada Goose, Napapijri and Parajumpers, among others.
“It’s a true sign of the times when a brand that got its start making fur-trimmed coats for fur trappers is now going fur-free. Woolrich’s new owner BasicNet clearly understands that today’s consumers want nothing to do with an archaic and cruel fur industry and instead are demanding more ethical materials that are better for animals and the planet,” said Joh Vinding, chairman of the Fur Free Alliance.
In November last year, BasicNet acquired Woolrich from Luxembourg-based fund L-Gam in a deal that valued the storied outerwear player at 90 million euros.
The transaction involved the acquisition through a wholly owned subsidiary of the rights to the Woolrich brand for Europe and 100 percent of Woolrich Europe SpA, the company managing its distribution and retail activities.
Through the deal, L-Gam exited Woolrich seven years after acquiring the brand in 2018 from its former owner, WP Lavori in Corso. In 2024 L-Gam had forged a deal with Chinese apparel group Baoxiniao Holding Co. Ltd., which acquired Woolrich’s intellectual property rights for all territories outside Europe.
Woolrich was founded in 1830 by John Rich in Pennsylvania and is one of the oldest American producers of wool fabrics and outdoor clothing. The company was created to provide durable and functional garments for hunters, lumberjacks and railway workers.
In 1850, Woolrich introduced its signature Buffalo red-and-black-check pattern. In 1940, responding to the needs of workers building oil pipelines in Alaska, the Arctic parka was born — designed to withstand extreme temperatures and another signature garment for the brand.
The range of fashion and luxury brands and retailers that have embraced a fur-free pledge over the years includes Dolce & Gabbana, Prada Group, Gucci, Armani Group, Zalando, Adidas, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein, among others.