HISTORICALLY PEOPLE HAVE used animal products in an effort to enhance their beauty and to be fashionable. Thousands of years ago the Egyptians made aromatics from animal fat and used them like perfumes of today. Wearing animal furs as coats and hats became popular in Europe as far back as the Middle Ages. In addition to wearing furs for warmth, during the sixteenth century people wore furs such as beaver hats because they were considered stylish. To many people, owning and wearing a fur coat is a symbol of wealth and high fashion.

Today animals remain an integral part of both the clothing and cosmetics industries. Many cosmetics and beauty products are tested on animals to determine the products' safety. In the United States approximately fifty thousand animals per year are used in these tests, with many experiencing...