Peta Plants: Inside Job or Coincidental?
The constant argument regarding the ethics of using real fur and leather has plagued Fashion Week for decades. This past fashion month has been no different. PETA somehow slipped by security and crashed last Friday’s Gucci show at Milan Fashion Week. All the buzz behind Sabato de Sarno’s massive debut Gucci Ancora collection was quickly washed over by a woman in a black dress sneaking her way into line up and joining the models down the runway. Like the previous ambushes, the video of this ordeal blew up on social media. The most prominent news outlets, such as CNN and Vogue, have also covered the PETA ambush fiascos. This fashion season alone, PETA protestors have ambushed three of the biggest fashion shows in each major city: Coach in New York, Burberry in London, and now Gucci in Milan. While PETA’s presence on the high-end runway has become practically traditional, a bubbling question arises: who’s letting the ambushers in?
Image Courtesy: Reuters/Claudia Greco
How are these regular people even getting past the front door, let alone stepping on a catwalk? Countless fashion fanatics, journalists, and photographers all tried the doors of the most prominent shows of the season and failed to receive an invitation inside. The entrees to these shows have become quite exclusive, especially with the rise of social media and influencers. From Identification requirements to countless security checks, brands do their best to keep the elites away from outside nonsense.
But a bombshell article written by GQ’s Samuel Hine, including an interview with PETA’s director of outreach communications, Ashley Byrne, may have given us extensive inside knowledge. While practically ironing her lips shut, there was one comment she made that could help us piece this puzzle. “It’s not easy to just walk into any major show at fashion week, " she said. “It takes some maneuvering.”
Without intention, Byrne alluded to potential inside jobs that may be happening throughout the shows of this industry’s biggest names. Each event has nearly 300 crew members who aid in bringing the designer's vision to life. But all you need is one person with a soft spot for the infamous group’s cause, and everything comes falling.
PETA’s gameplay is old, but it always works. It is safe to say these incidents have not been carried out at the hands of the houses but by whistleblowers or staff members whose dishonesty will lead to further repercussions that only those at entry-level production positions will unfortunately face. With security protocol becoming more strict than ever and invite lists growing shorter, signs are pointing to one thing: sellouts! But decade after decade, the activists’ tactics continue to remain unbeatable. And as Paris Fashion Week begins, instead of wondering which celebs will be gracing the front rows, we all can’t help but wonder which show will be PETA’d next.
Strike Out,
Gael Lynn Laguerre
Boca Raton
Gael-Lynn Laguerre is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She’s a textbook Aquarius: hyper-independent but also super hot. In her free time, she enjoys online shopping, writing sad poetry, and oversharing on Twitter. You can reach her by lgaellynn@gmail.com or Instagram @gael.lynn
