Is trendy, warm, expensive, and drumming up considerable controversy.
Canada Goose coats designed to withstand Arctic-like temperatures are getting a frosty reception from fur activists.
On Saturday, they targeted Channer's in London.
"We're trying to break the stigma that fur is a status symbol," says
Vegan activists of London are hitting the pavement, trying to get people to warm up to the idea of living without fur and chicken and goose down.
Activists say the animals are suffering.
"Often they are scalded alive in hot water, that's what gets the down off of them. So, these coats are stuffed with chicken feathers from factory farming, that's a big problem too," says protester Laura Sauve.
But Canada Goose, the makers of some of the most popular coats this season, denies that feathers are taken from live birds
According to the company's website:
"We believe that live plucking is cruel and inhumane and we would never be party to supporting this method of harvesting feathers and down."
When it comes to the popular fur-rimmed hoods, the company claims the fur is obtained ethically, and legally:
"Canada Goose only purchases fur from certified Canadian trappers, and the trapping of fur-bearing animals is strictly regulated by the provincial and territorial wildlife departments in Canada."
But some dispute that.
"In spite of what the website for Canada Goose says, these animals are caught in leghold traps. They suffer excruciating pain and fear and then they're killed, so that we can wear them on our collars, its ridiculous," says activist Florine Morrisson.
Channer's is the only London retailer that sells Canada Goose products.
Staff declined to comment for this story.
They tell CTV News that the products are so popular they can't keep them on the shelves.
The Vegan activists don't expect people will drop their $600r jackets and buck the trend, but they want to change a few people's minds.
"You can't change everything, you can't change the world, but you can educate people," says Sauve.
