Spanish fashion giant Inditex has announced a complete and permanent ban on the use of angora wool across all its brands.

The ban follows discussions with animal rights group PETA US and a media expose of the cruel practice where live rabbits’ fur is ripped from their skin to produce the soft thread.

Inditex, the world’s largest clothing retailer, says it will no longer stock products using angora wool in Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka stores.

It went further to donate 20,000 brand-new angora wool garments manufactured in previous seasons (with a retail value of approximately US$878,000) to Syrian refugees in Lebanon through the charity Life for Relief and Development.

“Thanks to Inditex’s massive donation, PETA is able to send a vital message about compassion for animals this winter – that only people desperately lacking basic necessities have any excuse for wearing fur that is ripped out of live animals’ bodies”, says PETA MD Ingrid E Newkirk.

“We’re calling on all remaining retailers – such as Benetton – that are still touting these products of rabbit torture to follow quickly in the footsteps of Inditex and others, or else they’ll watch their customers, wallet in hand, walk out the door.”

A PETA Asia investigation found some rabbits used for angora scream in pain as their fur is ripped out, while others are cut or sheared and invariably wounded by the sharp tools as they struggle desperately to escape. In addition, the angora farming industry condemns these intelligent, social animals to years of isolation in small, filthy wire cages.

Inditex join more than 70 top brands and retailers – including Asos, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney and Tommy Hilfiger – which have permanently banned angora wool as a result of PETA Asia’s investigation.

A full list of retailers which have ceased angora sales, can be found on PETA’s website.