Denver voters have rejected a proposal to prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution, and display of fur products in the city, the unofficial tally on Tuesday night showed.

The proposal was trailing by 15.5 points, with 42.1% of voters supporting it and 57.9% in opposition, according to the latest results posted on the Denver Clerk & Recorder show.

“Today’s victory by the ‘Hands Off My Hat’ team and supporters is a testament to the people of Denver who value tradition, respect local businesses, and recognize the unique cultural contributions that artisans and craftspeople make to our community,” said Landon Gates, spokesperson for Hands off my Hat. “By voting down Ordinance 308, Denver has chosen to protect jobs, heritage, and personal choice, allowing our residents to continue enjoying the products they love and our city’s iconic Western culture.”

The proposal was introduced by the same group that sought to ban slaughterhouses in the city.

There would have been a few notable exceptions to the fur ban — for vintage or antique items, things used for cultural purposes by Native American tribes, and those that are repurposed from used fur products.

The proposal was introduced by the same group that sought to ban slaughterhouses in the city.

The proposal drew criticism from the National Western Stock Show and other groups, including Visit Denver. Mayor Mike Johnston said he would vote against the fur ban.

Among the critics is the Downtown Denver Partnership, which sought to emphasize the proposal’s impact to the National Western Stock Show, an economic boon for Denver that draws 700,000 people and generates roughly $200 million in economic impact annually.

“The proposed fur ban stands to have a direct impact on downtown retailers, and it also poses a significant threat to Denver’s history and continued identity as a nationwide hub for agriculture and the outdoors,” the Downtown Denver Partnership said. “As a steward for the business community and our city, and champions for our region’s economic competitiveness, the Downtown Denver Partnership does not believe in the sanctity of banning entire industries via a ballot measure and sees this measure as an undue threat to one of our city’s most important economic generators.”

Pro Animal Future, which pushed for the ban, contended that fur products support a “cruel and unnecessary industry” and that consumers have largely moved on. In Denver, there are at least six stores that sell new fur products.

The group also pointed to more than 25 countries that have imposed some form of a ban on fur products, including Italy and the United Kingdom. The latter two have banned fur farming outright, according to the group.

If approved, Denver would join 16 other cities — including Hallandale Beach in Florida, and Los Angeles in California — that have banned fur products. Locally, Boulder banned fur products in 2021.

“Prohibiting the sale of new fur products in Denver will have a direct economic impact on the fur industry, and send a clear signal to retailers that it is time to transition away from using animals for fur,” the group said on its campaign website. “Denver Initiated Ordinance 308 would also be setting a precedent, making the passing of a statewide fur ban in Colorado more feasible in the future.”