Industry watchers also call into question the way PETA timed the release of its report for early summer, when major western brands place orders. Gap, the second largest clothing retailer in the US, was the first to be targeted by the activists for using Indian leather. Chrissie Hynde, former lead singer of the group Pretenders, staged a demonstration in front of its stores following which Gap announced it had stopped using Indian and Chinese leather. With 37 European and North American animal rights organisations staging noisy protests, more companies including Banana Republic, Old Navy, Liz Claiborne and Florsheim followed suit. Although industry officials refuse to pinpoint any lobby or country, the names of Italy, Australia and Taiwan are doing the rounds.
Cruelty persists in all markets.
PETA activists demonstrating at the International Leather Expo held this February in Chennai PETA denies that vested interests are behind their campaign, and points out that while the CLE promoted the interests of leather manufacturers, PETA was a non-profit organisation whose aim was informing consumers about the suffering that went into the making of leather products. On May 31, PETA global president Ingrid Newkirk agreed to a 60-day moratorium on efforts to pressure overseas customers of Indian leather. The announcement followed a meeting between Newkirk and leather industry officials. Although CLE argued that it was up to the state welfare departments and municipal bodies to ensure that laws relating to cattle transport and slaughter were being enforced, it agreed to act as a facilitator. It also agreed to stop buying hide from Mumbai's Deonar slaughter house where PETA shot most of its footage.