"We'd rather bare skin than wear skin," was the cry of three anti-leather campaigners who, wearing nothing but the slimmest of thongs, braved the unseasonal rain on Grafton Street yesterday to highlight the mistreatment of animals at the hands of the leather industry.
"Me going naked is nothing in comparison to what the animals are going through," said the Irish contingent of the vocal group, Mr John Carmody, from Limerick.
Mr Carmody, Ms Anish Harrison and Ms Diane Selvanayagan, (both from England) are taking part in a worldwide campaign being run at the moment by "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA). They have toured as far afield as the US and China.
Ms Poova Joshipura, spokesperson for the organisation, said: "The campaigners are out here exposing themselves to expose people to what happens to animals before they are made into leather."
According to Ms Joshipura animals are being raised and transported in cramped conditions.
"They are being mutilated and often have their throats slit while still alive, and it's all in the name of fashion.
Ms Selvanayagan has been volunteering with PETA for five years and has taken part in similar tours in Denmark and Germany, as well as all over England and Scotland.
The trio will bare all in Belfast today.