Actress and singer Jane Birkin has asked fashion house Hermès to remove her name from the iconic bag she inspired, after an investigation by Peta alleged that crocodiles were harmed during the making of the accessory.

Jane BirkinJane Birkin wants her name removed from the famous Hermès bags.

“Having been alerted to the cruel practices reserved for crocodiles during their slaughter to make Hermès handbags carrying my name ... I have asked Hermès to debaptise the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with international norms can be put in place,” Birkin said in a statement.

Birkin’s request comes after the animal rights organisation recently published an exposé on crocodile farms from Texas to Zimbabwe where it alleged the animals are being kept in concrete pits before being “crudely hacked” to death.

“At just one year old, alligators are shot with a captive-bolt gun or crudely cut into while they’re still conscious and able to feel pain,” Peta said in their findings. “The investigator saw alligators continuing to move their legs and tails in the bleed rack and in bloody ice bins several minutes after their attempted slaughter.”

More: Edie Sedgwick? Olivia Palermo? Who Should Top Our Five Style Icons List?

In a statement to Mail Online designer Hermès said, "Jane Birkin has expressed her concerns regarding practices for slaughtering crocodiles. Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for many years."

"Hermès respects and shares her emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast. An investigation is underway at the Texas farm which was implicated in the video. Any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned."

"Hermès specifies that this farm does not belong to them and that the crocodile skins supplied are not used for the fabrication of Birkin bags,’ the label added. "Hermès imposes on its partners the highest standards in the ethical treatment of crocodiles."