Vika Gazinskaya shares her support for animal-friendly fashion with Peta

London - Russian fashion designer Vika Gazinskaya has joined the growing list of high profile designers, including Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Tim Gunn that have teamed up with animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to promote cruelty-free fashion.

In an exclusive short film, she shares her opinions on creatively using eco-friendly alternatives to fur and leather in her collections. "I wear my designs, my faux-fur coats, and even when it's -20 degrees [Celsius] in Moscow, I feel very comfortable", says Gazinskaya. "If you love animals for whatever personal reasons, or if you think it's a shame that they are killed, and simply don't accept violence...just choose materials that allow you to work in accordance with how you see the world."

One of the six finalists for the ANDAM fashion award in 2012 and a vegetarian from the age of 16, Gazinskaya first launched her own label in 2006, through an initial collaboration with Californian artist Bart Dorsa before venturing solo. Her collections are stocked in a number of luxury boutiques around the globe as well as online at Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa and Avenue32.