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- Photo: gbergin
Fur is back on the runway, and a good handful of designers such as Chanel and Marc Jacobs embraced the fur and shearling trend by promenading models dressed in fur coats, hats, boots and even trousers down the catwalks of autumn’s 2010 shows. The strong presence of fur has never really gone away, despite anti-fur campaigners such as PETA incessantly protesting outside shows.
It seems that fur will always find a way to make an appearance on the catwalks of influential designers, in spite of what people may or may not think is ethical.
Ethical vs. unethical
Fur has been deemed inhumane and unnecessary by groups such as the Anti-Fur Society, PETA and the International Anti Fur Coalition. However, radical protests outside tents at fashion weeks has not wavered the ideal that fur is glamorous, alluring and attractive; and when it comes to this season’s fur trend, excess is best.
- Photo: PrettySaro
There was more fur on the autumn 2010’s runway than there has been in nearly ten years, and the reason for this is that fur is still a big seller, whether anti-fur campaigners like it not. There is also a new take on the pro- fur front: that fur is friendlier to the environment than unnatural fibres which are dyed, treated with damaging chemicals and overly processed. That’s right boys and girls, wearing fur makes you environmentally conscious, or at least that’s what people who are pro-fur would like you to think.
Pro-fur defenders believe that because fur is a natural product, it is less harmful to the environment. There are many arguments for fur, ranging from the fact that fur is long wearable and renewable, to it being biodegradable and recyclable. These new revelations have given those who feel guilty about wearing fur a new leg to stand on when defending their pricey, biodegradable mink stole.
Other Options
- Photo: Rocket Dog
Faux fur is probably the best alternative to the real thing, especially high quality faux fur. It looks like real fur, feels like real fur, and no animals were harmed in making it. Animals don’t feature in faux fur at all. It is generally one hundred per cent acrylic.
There are many ways to wear faux fur, especially when it comes to boots, scarves slippers, and gloves. Faux fur doesn’t have to be tacky; it can be just as glamorous as real fur, without all that unnecessary guilt.
March 20th, 2010 at 2:44 am
Killing animals for their skin IS JUST *&$@%*#ING WRONG! people who kill animal for profit are going yo hell when they die!
March 20th, 2010 at 2:52 am
From Trapping to Farming, Skinning To Chemically Enhancing, Its all cruel for the Animals the Humans and the Environment! Time To Get Into The 21st Century And Not The Caveman Days!
March 20th, 2010 at 4:29 am
Fur is beautiful on the animals who are born with it and hideously vile on any human who buys it thus supporting the torture and murder of an innocent being.
When a human is wearing fur they loose all their humanity.
Fur like leather is the remains of a murdered animal.
There is NOTHING glamorous about fur or leather.
March 20th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Fur will always be a big seller as long as there are vain, shallow, selfish, stupid people to buy and wear it hoping it will make them something they are not – smart, glamourous, fashinable, forward thinking.
Fur is not an ecological product. Fur farms are filthy, polluting places. Turning a living animal into a piece of fur involves toxic chemicals that are dumped into the environment.
There are no acceptable for reasons for wearing fur. None. It makes people look fat and squat. It is no warmer than fleece. If people think that hanging a dead animal around their neck makes them look good – they are wrong. It makes them look like exactly what they are.
March 20th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
If you wear fur, you support true animal cruelty! Animals are skinned alive for their fur and live horrific lives in tiny, filthy cages.
Please be a real person and wear fake fur!
March 20th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
FUR IS GROSS!! No woman looks Hot or sexy in real fur. Cold hearts are never in.
March 21st, 2010 at 12:19 am
It is inconceivable to me how you people can be so ignorant or indifferent to animal suffering. It disturbs me to think of all the animals that are killed just because they have a beautiful fur coat! Do you people not realize that there was an animal attached to that fur at one time, one that has a central nervous system, knows pain and comfort and like us would do anything to live???? Almost all of the children movies are based on animals because they have a natural love for them. Why when we get older do we treat them so poorly!!??
Most animals used for fur are raised in fur farms. The farmers use the most cost effective and cruel housing and killing methods for these animals. Animals live their entire lives intensively confined in wire, outdoor cages. No protection from the elements and barely enough room to turn around. When it is time to die for their fur they are either anally electrocuted, gassed, poisoned or their necks snapped! Millions of animals, including rabbits, raccoons, and foxes, are painfully trapped in steel-jaw leg hold traps each year. Those who don’t freeze or starve are usually beaten to death or suffocated when the trapper arrives hours or days later.
More then half of all the fur in North America comes from China where there is no animal protection laws at all. These animals have been denied even the simplest acts of kindness. Never mind all the dogs and cats that are skinned alive in China for their fur and then mislabeled and shipped all over the world. I wish that the 6:00 news would show some of this footage for people to see. Then you greed ridden people may not be able to sell it for sure !! Yes, for all you animal haters I am also aware of all the starving and suffering humans and give generously to those causes also but more of us need to speak up for those that have no voice. Ignorance is not bliss. Please educate yourselves about this horrific trade and stop selllingadvertising fur. Get a conscience!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Christine Ness
(“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is
violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

March 21st, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Fur is for animals, despite what greedy people can think.
It is just vil to wear and support fur.
March 21st, 2010 at 10:17 pm
If you have ever seen a fox caught in a leghold trap chewing his leg off to escape, or still alive days or weeks later (trappers take varying amounts of time to check on traps), being viciously stomped and beaten to death,
OR you have seen minks on a fur farm, kept outside in barren wire cages (which are very painful to their paws) in the worst weather, and then fighting for their lives as they are anally electrocuted (so as not to damage their fur), you would NEVER wear fur.
I have seen these things and they are without question the worst animal abuse I have ever seen.
Also, in China, they skin dogs and cats alive, because their fur comes off more easily that way. If that is not monstrous horror, nothing is.
Some of what passes for “fake” fur in the U.S. + E.U. is actually dog and cat fur, Burlington Coat Factory was a big offender, but have pledged not to buy any more. Any whim, no matter how trivial, does not justify the torture of animals.