Fashion leader faces fur protest

Neville Findlay is confronted by animal activists outside his Newmarket Zambesi store yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

Neville Findlay, co-owner of top fashion house Zambesi, was confronted by activists yesterday over the use of animal fur in its products.

The Auckland Animal Action protesters, incensed the fur is used in at least two of the firm's products, protested outside Zambesi's Newmarket store. The shop stocks products containing raccoon fur.

Auckland Animal Action claims 40 million animals are killed for the fur industry each year, with creatures such as rabbits, mink and foxes raised on fur farms. The protest ended after it was agreed the parties would sit down to sort out their differences.

That meeting is understood to be scheduled for after Easter.

Mr Findlay declined to comment. He and wife Liz have run Zambesi - last year named to redesign the Air New Zealand uniforms - for 25 years.