Seoul forces Fendi to remove fur from catwalk

SEOUL, South Korea – Seoul is forcing Italian fashion house Fendi to leave fur off the catwalk of its largest show in Asia due to animal rights protests.

Fendi is known as a master of fur craftsmanship and a statement released Sunday said the designer had difficulty understanding the decision and had spent months preparing for the show.

Animal rights activists in the South Korean city had threatened to stage massive rallies unless fur was removed.

Seoul official Seo Jeong-hyup said Monday the city subsequently demanded Fendi remove fur because of negative public sentiments.

The event scheduled on a large artificial island on Seoul's Han River early next month would have been Fendi's largest 2011 fall-winter show in Asia.