Sealskin row student defends work

Dorthe Christiansen with one of her designs

A fashion student has provoked anger with the use of sealskin for a clothing range.

Dorthe Christiansen's controversial designs have landed her in a row with animal rights campaigners.

The 24-year-old has designed the outdoor clothes as part of her fashion design course at the University of Wales College, Newport.

I think most sensible people will be appalled by the use of sealskin in the woman's designs.

Elaine Toland, Animal Aid

Her range of clothing includes trousers and waistcoats but she has also created a seal fur bikini.

Pressure group UK Animal Aid hit out at Dorthe's sealskin fashion designs.

The group described college officials as "irresponsible" for allowing her to go ahead with them.

Animal Aid is now considering demonstrating against Dorthe's designs through their south Wales offshoot, Fauna.

'Surprised at fuss'

Danish-born Ms Christiansen defended her decision to use sealskins, which she imports from Greenland.

She said: "I am doing nothing wrong. I am surprised at the fuss because in Denmark, the trend is to wear seal fur to keep warm in winter.

Security at the college is required

"The skins are from seals which are not clubbed to death but shot to provide food.

"It is just the same as cattle being killed in Britain to provide food.

"They are adult seals and I would never dream of using the skins of baby seals."

Fashion degree course leader Sharon Rees said: "We were concerned when Dorthe said she was using sealskins for her designs.

'Cruel and ugly'

"But Dorthe has carried out a lot of research and part of a fashion course of this type is to challenge normal convention by trying something different."

Jan Brown, of the British Fur Trade Association, said Ms Christiansen had been "disgracefully" singled out.

"This young woman has done nothing wrong," she said.

"It is such an emotive subject and it is therefore very important that people have the right information and for Ms Christiansen to go about her business without being intimidated."

Animal Aid campaigner Elaine Toland said: "I think most sensible people will be appalled by the use of sealskin in the woman's designs.

"The killing of seals is a cruel and ugly business and everything possible should be done to discourage it."

Ms Toland said: "We would urge all the students at the college to boycott her if she decides to give a fashion show of any sort."