ANIMAL rights activists hit the streets to protest against the London Fashion Week yesterday.

Two Brighton women took part, and lost their tops to show their support for furry friends by painting the slogan “wear your own skin” across their bodies.

Bethany Carter and Charlotte Bone, both 23, helped make up a group of eight Peta activists who tried to encourage passers-by to stand up for animal rights by leaving fur, leather, shearling, and other animal-derived materials out of their wardrobes.

Charlotte said: “Whether it’s the fur of a frightened fox or angora rabbit or the skin of a gentle calf, it’s not fabric and it’s not ours for the taking.

“With so many innovative, high-quality vegan fabrics available, there’s simply no excuse for wearing an animal’s skin or hair.”

Animal rights organisation Peta, whose motto reads, in part, “animals are not ours to wear”, exposed that animals on fur farms spend their entire lives in horrific conditions.

Foxes, minks and other animals are confined to tiny, filthy cages before brutal killings.

They are either poisoned, gassed, electrocuted or have their necks broken to end their lives.

Cows destined to be slaughtered for leather endure painful mutilations, branding, tail-docking, and de-horning - all without painkillers.

Peta also reveal that in shearing sheds sheep are cut, kicked, punched, and sometimes killed by impatient workers.

The activists will continue to protest at the fashion week across the weekend.

The fashion week runs from Friday to Tuesday.

However, a national newspaper reported that more than 90 per cent of the designers taking part in the show will not be showcasing fur, as they confirmed to the British Fashion Council.

Peta director Elisa Allen, believes the right message was sent.

She said: “It’s hard to reach very many people just by handing out leaflets.

“These social movements must be creative and provocative in order to connect with people who are bombarded with paid advertising from wealthy corporations selling products for which animals were harmed.

“And the demonstration, which reminds people that animals are not fabric, did just that.”

The organisation also has information on its website, peta.org.uk, on how you can play a part to stop cruelty against animals.

“Please refuse to support cruelty to animals,” it says.

“Don’t ever buy or wear products made with fur, leather, or other animal-derived materials.”