PHOTOS: Ileana Stands Up for Bunnies With LFW

If looks could kill, Ileana D’Cruz‘s steely gaze would have angora fur and wool farmers trembling in their boots. The Bollywood star goes backless in a brand-new ad for PETA India launched in association with Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW).

In the ad, Ileana urges fans to “[g]ive cruelty the cold shoulder. Say NO to angora fur and wool”. The sexy ad was created by ace photographer Colston Julian. Ileana’s hair and make-up were done by Kritika Gill. The ad was styled by Tanya Mehta.

The launch was an extension of a joint initiative between PETA and LFW called “ExtraVEGANza“, which celebrates vegan (non-animal) leather, vegan fur and other modern and humane materials.

“[R]abbits are treated really violently. … Because of that violent nature of pulling out the fur while the animal is still alive, it goes into terrible shock and trauma”, says Ileana. “[A]ngora can be sold as fur as well as wool. And you find it in sweater[s] or scar[ves]. … You have to actually check the labels to see what it’s made of. And when you do find that it’s made of angora fur, I would really request you that the only way we can stop this is by not buying stuff like this.”

A PETA Asia investigation of nine angora fur farms in China – which exports 90 per cent of the world’s angora fur and wool – documented workers ripping the hair from the rabbits’ sensitive skin as the animals screamed in pain. Rabbits who have their hair cut or sheared also suffer. During the shearing process, the rabbits’ front and back legs are tethered tightly – a terrifying experience for any prey animal. All angora rabbits spend their lives confined individually to barren wire cages that harm their sensitive feet.

The best thing you can do to help rabbits and other animals abused for fashion is to read labels and put garments that contain angora fur, wool or any other animal-derived item back on the rack.

You can help.