Monthly magazine Elle has banned the use of fur in all of its global titles.
The fashion and lifestyle magazine, which has 45 editions across the world, will no longer feature fur in any photoshoots, product placements or runway galleries in its print and digital media.
"The presence of animal fur in our pages and on our digital media is no longer in line with our values, nor our readers,” said Valeria Bessolo LLopiz, Elle's senior vice president and international director.
“It is time for Elle to make a statement … rejecting animal cruelty,” Bessolo Llopiz said at the Business of Fashion Voices 2021 event in Oxfordshire in England on Thursday.
Hailing a "fur-free future", Bessolo LLopiz told Reuters: "It's a really great opportunity to increase awareness for animal welfare, bolster the demand for sustainable and innovative alternatives and foster a more humane fashion industry."
The women's magazine originated in France in 1945 and is owned by French media group Lagardere. It has an estimated 33 million readers and 100 million monthly online visitors.
Thirteen editions of Elle have already implemented a charter to ban fur and another 20 will join this group from January 1. The remaining 12 editions will ditch fur from January 1, 2023.
The magazine is the first major publisher to mandate a fur ban, a trend that is becoming more common in the world of fashion and retail.
Gucci and Michael Kors publicly vowed to go fur-free in 2018, when Gucci auctioned off its existing fur stock and donated the proceeds to animal welfare groups.
In September this year, luxury group Kering announced all of its brands would join Gucci in the move. Italian fashion powerhouse Prada has also been fur free since 2020 and Burberry ditched the animal cruelty in 2018.
The moves are a big jump from Karl Legerfeld's statement in 2009, when the designer behind high-end fashion houses Fendi and Chanel, famously declared that in a culture of meat-eating and leather use, “the discussion of fur is childish”.
As more consumers align with ethical and environmental values, fashion houses, designers, retailers and now media are having to rethink their reliance on animal products.
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
