Overstock.com Goes Fur Free(others in theindustry to follow. The...),Health

The Humane Society of the United States urges all designers and retailers to adopt fur-free policies to protect the more than 75 million animals worldwide who suffer and die annually for their pelts. Only by refusing to sell any animal fur products can these merchandisers protect themselves and their customers from the false advertising and labeling that currently plagues the industry.

Over the last three winters, The HSUS has identified dozens of falsely-advertised or falsely-labeled garments -- 70 percent of which contained fur from the raccoon dog, an Asian member of the dog family that has been documented to be skinned alive in China. Among the false names used for raccoon dog fur are: Faux fur, Ecological fur, Polyester, Coyote, Rabbit, Canis Latranis, Raccoon and Finni Raccoon.

The list of 100 fur-free designers and retailers is online at humanesociety.org/furfreeshopping, and more information on The HSUS investigations is at humanesociety.org/furfree/.

To see an interview with Byrne on Overstock.com going Fur Free, please visit hsus.org/furfree/news/overstockcoms_ceo.html.

Timeline:

-- Feb. 2008 - BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP pledges to go fur-free after discussion with The HSUS.

-- May 2007 - Foot Locker pledges to go fur-free after discussions with The HSUS.

-- March 2007 - Tommy Hilfiger pledges to go fur-free because of The HSUS investigation.

-- Feb. 2007 - Calvin Klein pledges to go fur-free because of The HSUS investigation.

-- Dec. 2006 - Tests commissioned by HSUS investigators find raccoon dog fur on jackets advertised as "faux" and/or labeled as other species, such as raccoon or coyote.

Overstock.com, Inc. is an online retailer offering brand-name merchandise at discount prices. The company offers its customers an opportunity to shop for bargains conveniently, while offering its suppliers an alternative inventory distribution channel. Overstock.com,
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