Lutech, a technology company based in Milan that provides technological support to the Milan Fashion Week, has officially ended its partnership with Milan Fashion Week due to the continued use of fur.
The global campaign against the use of fur targeted at Milan Fashion Week, announced by the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) on January 8, 2026, has now secured its fifth major corporate sponsor, following the exits of DHL, Wella, Visa, and Acqua Fiuggi earlier this year.
During the six-day campaign in Europe and North America, nine protests were held in four countries and six cities. The demonstrations took place at Lutech’s affiliate facilities, including Apax Partners and its subsidiaries.
Lutech confirmed that it had severed its ties with Milan Fashion Week in an email sent to CAFT on June 17, 2026.
This fifth withdrawal follows that of CNMI. The Voluntary Guidelines on the Use of Fur, published on May 15, 2026, fall short of constituting a binding fur-free policy and explicitly refuse to impose a ban, in stark contrast to the mandatory bans already adopted by the fashion weeks of London, New York, Copenhagen, Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Melbourne.
“Lutech’s exit comes just days before the opening of Milan Men’s Fashion Week, and the remaining partners of Milan Fashion Week should take note,” stated Suzie Stork, Executive Director of CAFT. “The Northern Mariana Islands had the opportunity to act according to the May guidelines and chose not to. Activists will be present in Milan during the upcoming fashion week, and in all corners of the world, protesting against any affiliate of Milan Fashion Week. We foresee this list of exits continuing to grow.”
Advocates argue that corporate sponsorships of events that resist the fur industry, like Milan Fashion Week, sustain and finance such industry. It has been widely documented that fur production causes severe suffering for millions of animals, significant environmental damage, and increased public health risks.
With Milan Men’s Fashion Week scheduled from June 19 to 23, 2026, CAFT has announced that protests will continue.
