Daniela Withaar

Why a once-fashionable “luxury” is quietly losing its grip on restaurants, retailers, and public opinion.

When an industry’s main defense strategy is hiring lawyers instead of explaining their practices, you know they’re hiding something.

Over the past few decades, a revolution has taken place at the ballot box. Activists have legalized cannabis, gay marriage, and even phased out battery cages, veal crates, and gestation crates using the purest form of direct democracy: ballot initiatives. In 24 states and many localities, citizens can propose laws and vote directly to enact … Read more

When we began digging into the results of our Denver ballot initiatives, one pattern was impossible to ignore: women were more supportive of our measures than men. The numbers tell the story plainly— according to our post-election research, 41% of women voted for the fur ban compared to just 26% of men. The slaughterhouse ban … Read more

When West Hollywood banned fur sales in 2011, the fur industry dismissed it as fringe activism in a famously progressive city. They couldn’t have been more wrong. As of February 2025, 16 cities across the nation and the entire state of California have gone fur-free, proving that what the industry calls “radical” today can become … Read more

Denver is a city of contrasts, and the vote revealed just how much those contrasts shaped their opinions on the fur and slaughterhouse bans.

Is a business that has repeatedly failed to comply with federal pollution laws, putting workers and residents at risk, a business we want in our city?

The ordinance is not about imposing a one-size-fits-all solution or alienating certain communities. Instead, it aims to strike a balance between cultural sensitivity and the ethical need to reduce animal suffering.

Many recent employee testimonies reveal exploitative working conditions at the Denver slaughterhouse, challenging the company’s claims of providing “well-paying jobs.”

One of the most controversial issues in the fashion industry today is the use of animal fur. What was previously a symbol of high-end luxury is now increasingly viewed as a symbol of cruelty and environmental destruction. The days of fur are numbered as society demands a more compassionate and sustainable fashion industry, leading to … Read more