SEOUL, South Korea � Seoul is forcing Italian fashion house Fendi to leave fur off the catwalk of its largest show in Asia due to protests.

Fendi's statement Sunday said the designer had difficulty understanding the decision and had spent months preparing. It added it would continue negotiations.

Animal rights activists in Seoul had threatened massive rallies unless fur was removed. City official Seo Jeong-hyup said Monday that Seoul subsequently demanded it because of negative public sentiments.

Fendi is known as a master of fur craftsmanship but it wasn't immediately known how the ban would alter the show.

The event on an artificial island on the Han River next month would have been Fendi's largest 2011 fall-winter show in Asia.