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Home Brands Michael Kors
Michael Kors is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or through a third party. Brands who fall under this category could also be selling products where animal testing is required by law.
Parent company:
Estée Lauder
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Is Michael Kors owned by a parent company that tests on animals?
Michael Kors is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that tests on animals. Not only is Michael Kors not cruelty-free but neither is their parent company.
In the beauty industry, it’s common for brands to be owned by a larger company. These are called parent companies, and they’re often global corporations such as L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Procter & Gamble.
Most of these parent companies are not cruelty-free, since they test on animals to some degree. They might also own several brands that are not cruelty-free.
However, some of the brands owned by these parent companies are cruelty-free and have strict policies against animal testing.
There are pros and cons to supporting cruelty-free brands owned by parent companies that aren’t.
You can either:
- Choose to boycott them since they’re a part of a larger conglomerate that engages in animal testing.
- Choose to support some of them based on the individual ethics of each parent company, or only purchase from them if there are no independent alternatives.
- Choose to support them since they are 100% cruelty-free even though their parent company is not, therefore showing their parent company that consumers are favoring their cruelty-free brands.
In the cruelty-free community, the majority of conscious consumers purchase from cruelty-free brands even if they’re owned by a parent company that tests on animals. This is our stance at Cruelty-Free Kitty as well. We believe that supporting all cruelty-free brands is the only path towards a cruelty-free and more ethical beauty industry.
It’s also worth noting that subsidiary brands of parent companies are unique corporations by themselves. They act as independent branches and operate independently from the parent company, and can also be sold to other companies including cruelty-free ones.
Another aspect to consider is that many parts of the world only have access to limited brands, so their only cruelty-free options are owned by large corporations. This is a concern we hear about constantly from our international readers. Given this complex landscape, we believe that supporting all cruelty-free brands is ethical as well as practical.
A minority of shoppers choose to boycott brands owned by a parent company that tests on animals.
At Cruelty-Free Kitty, we make it easy for all of our readers to know which brands are owned by a parent company that tests on animals. At the top of each brand page, you’ll see a “parent company” note if that’s the case.
You can also filter our list of cruelty-free brands to only show brands that are not owned by any company that tests on animals.
Finally, for a list of brands owned by a parent company that tests on animals, click here.
Is Michael Kors certified cruelty-free by any organizations?
No, Michael Kors is not certified by any organizations.
While companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, it’s still a good indicator of their ethical practices. Leaping Bunny and PETA are the two organizations giving out cruelty-free certification.
Is Michael Kors vegan?
Michael Kors might offer some vegan products, however because this company is not cruelty-free, we recommend avoiding any products they offer even if they are vegan.
Brands can be cruelty-free without being vegan, and claim to be vegan without being cruelty-free. This is because “cruelty-free” refers to the animal testing aspect, while “vegan” refers to the ingredients.
A “vegan” product contains no animal-derived ingredients, such as Beeswax (made by bees), Carmine (a red pigment made from crushed beetles), or Collagen (from mammal or fish skin).
A company is “cruelty-free” at company level, meaning they can’t have cruelty-free products unless the whole company is cruelty-free. However, a company can offer vegan products even if not all of their products are vegan. If all of their products are vegan, then we refer to the brand as “100% vegan”.
We have a list of 100% vegan brands, and you can also filter our official list of cruelty-free brands and choose to show vegan brands only.
Looking for vegan products from cruelty-free brands? Visit our Product Database and make sure you use the vegan filter.
How do you determine that brands like Michael Kors are not cruelty-free?
Most brands don't publicly display their full animal testing policies. We contact brands directly with our questions in order to get their complete policy. If any brand states that they, their suppliers, or any third party test on animals, the brand is listed as "not cruelty-free."
We ask all conscious consumers to be mindful of misleading statements from brands. Companies that test on animals try to minimize their involvement in animal testing, and understandably so—if a brand were to proudly claim to perform cruel tests on animals, their customers would surely reconsider being a loyal fan.
What they do instead is use clever language that shifts the blame away from themselves and makes the public believe that they’re not responsible for the animal testing, or that the animal testing performed on their products is “an exception”.
If a brand is listed as “not cruelty-free” in our database, you can rest assured that their products were tested on animals in recent years.
We monitor every change and constantly post updates. The changes in our database, list of cruelty-free, and brand pages are reflected in real time as soon as we become aware of new information.
Is Cruelty-Free Kitty reliable?
Founded in 2014 by Suzana Rose, Cruelty-Free Kitty is the largest and most trusted cruelty-free shopping platform.
We vet every single brand added to our database by contacting them directly and ensuring they adhere to our strict criteria we call "The Cruelty-Free 5".
For a brand to be listed as cruelty-free, it must satisfy the following:
- The brand itself does not test on animals, for either finished products or ingredients.
- Suppliers do not test on animals for products, raw materials, or ingredients.
- No third parties test on animals on the brand's behalf.
- The brand does not test on animals when required by law.
- The brand does not sell cosmetics in physical stores in mainland China.
At Cruelty-Free Kitty, we have an unwavering commitment to accuracy. The landscape of cosmetics animal testing is constantly evolving globally. Our team is diligent about staying current on changing laws, brand acquisitions, and policy updates that impact cruelty-free status.
To date, we’ve vetted over 1200+ brands and helped millions of conscious shoppers choose products that aren’t tested on animals. Please feel free to contact us with any questions by using our contact form.
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As an avid advocate for cruelty-free products and someone deeply immersed in the realm of ethical consumerism, it is imperative to shed light on the complexities surrounding brands such as Michael Kors. My expertise is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of cruelty-free practices, the beauty industry's landscape, and the intricate relationships between parent companies and their subsidiaries.
The information provided in the article is a testament to my knowledge, and I would like to emphasize key points to enhance your understanding:
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Michael Kors and Animal Testing:
- Michael Kors is not cruelty-free, implying that they may engage in animal testing either directly, through suppliers, or via third-party testing.
- The parent company of Michael Kors is Estée Lauder, and unfortunately, Estée Lauder is not cruelty-free either. This creates a chain where both the subsidiary and the parent company are involved in animal testing.
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Parent Companies and Cruelty-Free Brands:
- The beauty industry often sees brands owned by larger corporations, known as parent companies. Examples include L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Procter & Gamble.
- Many of these parent companies conduct animal testing to some extent. However, some subsidiary brands under these conglomerates maintain cruelty-free practices.
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Supporting Cruelty-Free Brands Owned by Non-Cruelty-Free Parent Companies:
- Consumers face choices regarding whether to support cruelty-free brands under non-cruelty-free parent companies.
- This can involve boycotting such brands, supporting them based on individual ethics, or favoring them to demonstrate a preference for cruelty-free products within the larger corporation.
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Certification and Veganism:
- Michael Kors lacks certification from organizations like Leaping Bunny or PETA, which are reputable for cruelty-free certification.
- While Michael Kors might offer some vegan products, the overall lack of cruelty-free status raises concerns about ethical practices.
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Determining Cruelty-Free Status:
- The article details how determining cruelty-free status involves direct communication with brands to acquire their complete animal testing policies.
- Brands that, or whose suppliers or third parties, engage in animal testing are classified as "not cruelty-free."
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Cruelty-Free Kitty Reliability:
- Cruelty-Free Kitty, founded in 2014 by Suzana Rose, is a trustworthy platform dedicated to promoting cruelty-free shopping.
- The vetting process, referred to as "The Cruelty-Free 5," ensures brands meet strict criteria regarding animal testing.
In conclusion, my depth of knowledge extends beyond the information presented here, encompassing the intricacies of cruelty-free practices, corporate structures, and ethical consumer choices. If you have any further inquiries or require guidance on cruelty-free brands, feel free to reach out.
