Ruffling Feathers, Cruelty-Free with Collective Fashion Justice

Feathers have always held a certain magic on the catwalk. Their lightness, the way they catch the air and shimmer with movement, makes them irresistible to designers looking for drama and flair. From flapper dresses of the 1920s to extravagant couture gowns today, feathers suggest fantasy – a whimsical touch that transforms fabric into spectacle.

But behind the glamour lies an uncomfortable truth. One example is the Ostrich feather. Unlike many birds, ostriches don’t moult, which means their feathers are taken through live plucking or cut just before slaughter. For an industry that increasingly prides itself on sustainability and compassion, this is a contradiction. Some fashion houses have sworn off ostrich skins, yet happily continue to trim gowns with ostrich plumes. The dissonance is striking – and troubling – when such beauty comes at such cost.

Cong Tri Chiffon-Trimmed Taffeta Dress in Pastel. Autumn/Winter 2025

This is exactly what Collective Fashion Justice (CFJ) hopes to change. Their new open-source guide, Fashion Beyond Feathers, is about to be published and aims to give designers the tools to create the same sense of lightness, movement and volume without resorting to animal-derived feathers...

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Image Credits:

Lead: Oscar de la Renta Fringed Raffia Mini Dress in Natural

All other images as credited in captions.