Humane Society International (HSI) Australia has launched the latest edition of its ‘Better Wool Guide’, which features 221 brands that have committed to phasing out mulesing from their supply chains.
The downloadable guide has added 75 more brands to the guide than last year, with new additions including Spell, Afends and Zulu & Zephyr. The brands join Country Road Group, Gorman, Target, Big W, The Iconic, David Jones and Myer.
Global brands VF Corporation, Levi Strauss & Co, Adidas and Nike have strengthened their commitments since the last edition of the Better Wool Guide and now rank in Tier 1.
The practice of mulesing is done to wrinkled lambs to avoid a painful disease caused by flies, known as ‘flystrike’. It involves slicing strips of skin off their rear.
According to HSI, roughly one in 10 Australian wool growers are already producing non-mulesed wool through the breeding of plain bodied sheep without wrinkles, making them naturally flystrike resistant.
HSI animal welfare campaigner Georgie Dolphin claimed Australia is the only country where the practice takes place after New Zealand banned the practice in 2018.
“Australia is well and truly singled out, being the only country in the world supplying mulesed wool. Aussie consumers and retailers alike are making it clear they are calling time on this cruelty.
“The conversation on mulesed wool has shifted dramatically in recent years to one of condemnation, so it’s encouraging to see so many brands becoming more public about their opposition and supporting a kinder solution."
New York luxury fashion brand Another Tomorrow is featured in the Better Wool Guide's 1st tier category, with 100% non-mulesed wool sourced from two farms in Tasmania.
One of those—White Gum Wool - has certification schemes alongside a 'no slaughter' policy where sheep live out their natural lives.
Another Tomorrow CEO Vanessa Barboni Hallik said the brand has strict sourcing requirements.
“At Another Tomorrow, we prohibit mulesed wool and have developed direct-to-farm relationships as part of our commitment to never using materials that require the suffering or killing of animals. We believe in treating animals with respect and compassion.”