Do you wear fur? Last weekend, while visiting home in Massachusetts, I went to an old big barn which has been converted into an antique shop filled with turn of the century furniture, chandeliers, vintage notions and more. I found this old fur stole and tried it on for fun. My boyfriend’s mom thought it was so cute she bought it for me. The smell of the antiquated fabric made my nose itch and my skin prickly- but there was something about the silhouette I found so charming. Also, I like old things, and the fact that this stole holds a story, a history, makes me wonder in awe about who used to wear it & what her life was like. I have yet to wear it out yet though- it sits in the back of my car wrapped up carefully, away from judgement and harm.
Is there a difference between wearing vintage fur vs. purchasing a new mink coat? Do you wear fur, or sew with it? Are you anti-fur? Is it the same as being against leather? Do you like the look of fur? Do you wear faux fur?
Sep 23, 2009, 09.40 PMby pinup
Really interesting question!
Firstly I’m not animals rights activist, I wouldn’t judge someone for wearing fur, I wear leather (but will try to buy organic leather having read about the environmental effects of the production practices) I’m an ex-vegetarian so I’m coming at this from what I hope is an objective angle. I love vintage but I think fur is reminiscent of an era when people used to dress to show wealth, as a status symbol, with little knowledge or consideration of the ways the fur was manufactured. Today we are more educated and I think style has progressed with ethics in mind, people are more conscious of how their clothes are produced, where and by whom.
That said, fur is used in high street fashion, not just designer labels and people tend to assume its faux. For example Zara pulled fur from its shelves in 2004 when campaigners realised they were using rabbit fur (see story – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3683966.stm). So you do still have to be vigilant if you like wearing faux.
To a certain extent fur is still seen as a symbol of wealth but not in the way it was used in years gone by, in those days real fur differentiated between rich and poor. But today, fur is mass produced on a massive scale using farming methods which we know are nothing short of barbaric. For me ethically, there’s no way I would consider buying fur, old or new because it represents a level of inhumanity which we, in the countries that fuel the fur trade have progressed way beyond in terms knowledge, ethics and attitude to fair trade .
Stella McCartney has really pioneered ethics in fashion which I think is admirable, we should take more responsibility for the clothing choices we make, whether it effects humans or animals. I have a pet cat, that I adore, knowing that cats are bred for fur in China, really puts things into perspective, I would hate to see a beautiful animal inhumanely treated just so I can have a fur collar on a coat which will go out of fashion from one season to the next. On the leather issue, there is debate about leather being a by-product of the meat industry, I used to think so, but moreover the effects of leather production have terrible implications for the environment and the people working in the industry and having read about it I will certainly try to make educated purchases the next time I’m shoe shopping.
Lastly, I know I’ve gone on and on!!! ooops, I don’t think fur is terribly attractive, warm, yes, particularly if your an eskimo, but we don’t need it. There’s a phrase which sums it up. “Fur-coat and no knickers”, in other words, trying to look like something your not, and I think fur looks well… a little bit cheap, no one likes a show-off trying to flash their cash. You can’t buy style!
Over and Out! xx
Sep 23, 2009, 09.41 PMby nehmah
I have no personal desire to wear furs, real or imitation. If I lived in a cold climate, I would probably feel otherwise. I have no problem with leather. Imitation fur serves the purpose of allowing an animal the right to live and stay warm as God intended, while allowing humans a way to look fashionable, and that’s OK with me. No human has been better-looking, or more desirable because of “borrowed finery.” However, It has always annoyed me when a fur garment becomes a battleground. No person has the “Moral Right” to vandalize another person’s belongings. Bullies never do anything but show others they are bullies. Respectfully, Nehmah
Sep 23, 2009, 10.07 PMby guenthecat
Do I buy fur? Yes and no.
If the animal who was the original owner of that fur was also used at a meat source, then I have no issue with real fur. So there are some real fur items that I will buy/wear/sew. But that’s generally not the case for fashion. So in that case, I generally will buy/wear/sew faux. There’s some great new faux fur out there that actually looks pretty real. So I have little reason to need real anymore even if it is for a costume that calls for realistic fur.
I do currently wear leather though and am reviewing my position on that as well since there’s also been some new revelations in imitation leather these days. I imagine once the imitation stuff is proven to be authentic looking and sturdy, I’ll slowly be phasing the real leather out unless I have a guarantee that the leather used was acquired from food animal sources. In that case, since I am also a meat eater, I have no problem with using real leather.
All bets are off though for second hand acquired leather and fur. Recycling the products into a new project is Not the same as purchasing new. No animals are being harmed by wearing something someone else bought years, even decades before you used it. Not only can you get your hands on some of the Best fur available, but you are also reducing waste by reusing the product. Besides, good quality Vintage is ALWAYS a blessing!
And I know some people count sheerling as fur, but I don’t. Those sheep get to keep their hides and their lives for the most part. And if you are worried about it, you can find a farm that will sell you it’s sheerings directly if you give them a good price.
1 Reply
Sep 24, 2009, 01.30 PMby wzrdreams
Uhm, I think sheerling is shorn pelt (skin) of a yearling sheep. It is still attached to the skin, so no the lambs do not get to keep their hide.
Wool, on the other hand is shorn. The sheep or other animal that provides fiber (alpaca, lamas, buffalo, angora goats, mohair rabbits etc…) do keep their skin.
Sep 24, 2009, 01.40 PMby wzrdreams
Woops. It’s shearling, with an a. I wiki’d it (for what that’s worth). Yup, shorn lamb skin.
I guess I’m in the camp that doesn’t have a problem with the skin of animals used for meat…. but I it has to be meat that I eat. I eat beef and bison and wear my leather to bits, but since I became a knitter I have a hard time with the idea of eating lamb so I won’t wear shearling.
Before I ever thought about it much I bought a merino wool winter coat with a beaver fur collar, and man is it lovely and soft and warm. I don’t think I would buy it now with the beaver collar so that is my first and last fur purchase.
Sep 24, 2009, 02.00 PMby ReneeBeth
I wish I had more time right now to answer this question (I have to get to class!) But I’ll just say a few things. I think that fake fur these days can look so real that I’m not sure if anyone could tell if yours was real or not. I don’t like the idea of people wearing real fur unless they need to, or it was in their traditions, cultures, or religions for ages. I don’t think wearing it as a status symbol counts in any of those categories, at least in my opinion.
Also, I’m not sure how I feel about vintage fur. I know it’s great to reuse, but I think I’d get the same “love it secretly, but keep it hidden” feeling you seem to have. Maybe since you love the silhouette, you could use it as a pattern and make it in a different material. You might end up feeling more confident, at least until you’ve decided your stance on wearing furs, vintage or not.
Hope that makes sense everyone, no time to edit!
RB
1 Reply
Sep 26, 2009, 07.21 AMby pinup
I totally agree Renee, indigenous use of fur is absolutely a given, and in many cases very much a necessity, I didn’t cover that in my rant, thanks!!!
Non-indigenous traditions that use fur do still exist aside from actual necessity to do so, such as the bear fur hats that the royal guards use in Buckingham Palace, sourced from Canadian black bears. Good news though, they are in talks to change to synthetic materials, attitudes are changing which is great!
Sep 26, 2009, 04.42 AMby Damiana_Designs
“Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.” ~Thomas A. Edison
Thomas Alva Edison : American inventor & industrialist
Thomas Edison (1847 – 1931)
2 Replies
Sep 28, 2009, 04.27 PMby smvphotography
so simple. so true!
Oct 7, 2009, 12.59 AMby josee.91
I’m not religious, but amen to that! I agree one-hundred percent. being a big animal lover and a vegetarian, i dont understnad the want to wear something else’s skin or eat something that was once alive and breathing. just my opinion!
Sep 27, 2009, 08.07 PMby MarmotaB
If we already kill an animal for meat, I think it’s only fair to use the fur/leather as well. If a farmer kills rabbits for meat, I think the fur should be used as well… (This I’m sort of basing on the experience of reading Arthur Ransome’s “Winter Holiday”, where Swallows and Amazons and D+D use rabbit and lamb fur they get from the local farmers to make themselves warm mittens and hats for their expedition. :-)
But you don’t get a guarantee like that with ready-to-wear, so normally I’m avoiding fur. I’m not exactly avoiding leather – for example, I can’t think of better material for shoes. But I’m avoiding leather for clothes as well.
I’m not avoiding thrifted/old fur, because I think when it’s already been used and worn by someone before me, it’s much better to continue using it than just throw it away. But I’d like to try never to wear it, because it might send out a wrong sort of message. I used old fur for one of my teddies.
Sep 28, 2009, 09.31 AMby EmilyKate
I’m not against fur/leather altogether, but I have seen horrifying video and reports of how the fur is removed from animals in some countries, and to say that it is inhumane is the understatement of the year. I would be uncomfortable wearing/purchasing fur because I would have no assurance it was raised and killed humanely, but then if I was all ‘hmmm, lets look into this, make sure the animals go to their deaths as happily as possible!" that just seems sick in its own way too! Its kinda weird to acknowledge that they feel pain and we shouldn’t inflict it on them, but its cool to take their fur for a garment I don’t need? (here in Australia, I can think of few things more useless than a fur coat). I wear leather all the time, I’m not one who can sit in judgement on anyone else on this issue that’s for sure, but fur, I draw the line there, the animals that grow it are cute and I think they should be allowed to keep it :o)
Sep 28, 2009, 02.10 PMby grammystephensnatio
I too, love antiques and that does include antique fur. I have rarely come across a piece that doesn’t smell or is not falling apart. I am also an avid deer hunter. When I do find an old fur coat or even just the collar I purchase it. Now, I’ll tell you why. A friend of mine traps turtles and gives me the shells. I sand down the spikes on the underside, drill holes all along the rim, use deer hide to form a “pouch” and tie it to the shell. I line the inside with the fur from an old coat, use the collar as a flap type closure. I shellac the shell and add braided raw hide strips as the handle or back pack style. My husbands hunting buddies all want one.
Years ago I purchased a faux mink coat as it was on sale, looked cool, and was a particularly cold winter her in Michigan. Evidently, it is too close to the real thing because I have received more anti-fur comments and I of course, always have to explain. (Don’t want it ripped off of me and burned, ya know)
Leather, I suppose I don’t have a problem with leather. I just don’t have anything leather.