Welcome to the Jungle
Fashion and animals have always had a complicated relationship; most prominently through the controversial widespread use of leather, suede, and fur in haute couture. The recent shock of Chanel’s 2022 Haute Couture show opened with Grace Kelly's granddaughter galloping down the runway on her steed, shedding light on the controversial manner in which animals have been displayed in fashion’s history.
Chanel is not the first to employ this controversial concept in their shows. Tod’s has used bulldogs, Celine has used deer. For Gucci’s Alessandro Michele’s collaboration with Balenciaga, models carried white rabbits down the runway. Thus, many have considered animals to be an artistic supplement in fashion exhibitions. So why was Chanel’s horse so controversial? Social media users called Chanel cruel for putting a horse in a stressful situation as it navigated a tight walkway surrounded by a large audience and flashing cameras. Others simply asserted that it was the “waspiest” display they had ever seen.
Chanel’s equestrian opening has called into question not only the ethical uncertainty of including live animals in fashion shows but also its impacts on public safety and societal implications. The question remains whether animals on the runway serve as an artistic enhancement or an immoral addition.