Former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop faced criticism from PETA after attending the first day of Australian Fashion Week in a $2000 black cocktail dress designed by Rachel Gilbert. The dress, which featured ostrich feather trim on the sleeves, sparked a response from the animal rights organization due to their stance on the use of feathers in fashion. PETA's criticism highlighted that the procurement of feathers can be as cruel as that of fur, referencing their investigations into ostrich farms where feathers are removed from birds either while alive or after slaughter.
In a letter addressed to Bishop, PETA emphasized the cruelty involved in feather harvesting and urged her to consider alternatives such as natural pampas grass, which they noted as a glamorous and cruelty-free option as demonstrated by Pamela Anderson at the Met Gala. They encouraged the former minister to support sustainable and cruelty-free fashion in her future public appearances. PETA's objections align with a broader movement in the fashion industry towards eliminating the use of feathers, with several fashion platforms and labels adopting more animal-friendly policies.