Farmers Who Raise Animals for Fur and Other Products

Sensitive & Smart Consumers Support Farmers Who Raise Animals for Fur and Other Products

Fur is Beautiful

Fur is far from being out-dated – it is contemporary, cutting edge, versatile and is being worn more than ever before. This could be why so many designers are adding fur to their collections – with an estimated 73% of A/W 2015/16 shows at the four major fashion weeks showing fur.

Fur is Natural

Fur is an organic material. The “dressing” process helps preserve the pelts, but after many years of use they will eventually dry out and begin to deteriorate (i.e., bio-degrade), returning to nature. Old fur apparel can even be composted for your garden!

In contrast, most synthetic furs are made from petrochemicals. Like other plastics, these materials do not break down easily and will remain in landfills for centuries.

Fur is Earth Friendly

Nothing is 100% “green”. To preserve fur hairs and follicles, fur tanning and coloring are relatively benign environment-impacting manufacturing processes.

The main chemicals used in fur pelt dressing are earth friendly:

Table Salt
Water
Alum Salts
Soda Ash
Sawdust
Cornstarch
Lanolin

During dressing and dyeing, small quantities of formaldehyde may be used to protect fur follicles. Gentle acids (e.g., acetic acid – vinegar) may also used to activate the dressing process. And because furs are available in an extraordinary range of natural colors, only a small proportion are dyed.

Local environmental protection controls help ensure that there are no harmful effluents in the tanning and coloring processes. In addition, excess fats are skimmed and pH levels are neutralized before waste-water is released.

By contrast, up to one gallon of petroleum – a non-renewable resource – is needed to produce three synthetic jackets. The production of synthetic fibers also involves chemical reactions at high temperatures which may produce potentially harmful substances.

Fur is Durable and Recyclable

Fur is naturally resilient and long lasting. Well cared-for, a fur garment will remain functional and beautiful for many, many years – far longer that any other clothing material. In fact, fur coats are one of the few clothing items that are often passed down and used by two or even three generations.

Unlike other textiles, fur garments can also be re-cut and restyled (“remodeled”) as fashions change. Your old fur coat can even be “recycled” to make bags, pillows, throws or other home accessories.

Fur is Ethical

Worldwide, the fur industry is an excellent example of an industry based on sustainable use. All the furs used by the trade are abundant, and absolutely no endangered species are used. This is assured by strict state/provincial, national and international regulations.

At a time when the true ecological cost of “cheap”, mass-produced, disposable “fast-fashion” is just beginning to be calculated – think millions of tons of poor-quality fibers and short-life garments filling up landfills – the naturally durable and recyclable qualities of fur makes more sense than ever!

Source: www.furcommission.com