Do you wear fur? (from SFGate.com)
A few months ago, a friend persuaded me to join an invitation-only discount designer shopping site called "Gilt." For those not already in the know, Gilt facilitates competitive shopping at its best since each sale lasts just 36 hours and features a very limited number of items.
I've managed to keep my wits (and at least most of my savings) about me, even when being tempted by glittering jewels and to-die-for dresses, but it's still fun to look, and every so often I log in to see what sales they're slingin'. One day last week, I was surprised to find fur "up to 70% off retail." Do people (and by this I mean young-ish, educated, stylish people) really still desire to be draped in dead animals? The answer, it seems, is a loud and unabashed YES! I watched with a mix of fascination and fright as the fur stoles, muffs and other furry items were snatched off the virtual shelves and stuffed into anonymous shopping carts. In less than 10 minutes, every last furry thing was spoken for.
I would be lying if I said I was blind to the attraction. I still remember the delicious feeling of fur against my skin when I played dress-up in my mom's mink coats and rabbit-fur jackets (yes, plural). Animal fur is soft, shiny, warm and oh-so luxurious to the touch. But now with the advent of zillions of high-tech fabrics to keep us warm and dry in the winters, wearing the stuff is completely unnecessary. Fur represents tremendous suffering on the part of the animals who died for that pair of earmuffs or showy full-length coat. So why do we still wear it?
Some friends tell me they restrict their fur-wearing proclivities to "vintage only." Their reasoning is, "Hell, the animals already died for this thing and they aren't coming back anytime soon so I might as well make use of it." While I can understand this logic, I still can't bring myself to buy or borrow vintage fur because it sets an example that makes me uncomfortable. Old or new, the continued glamorization of mink, fox, ermine or whatever other pelt one fancies feels frivolous and cruel. I own one faux fur jacket that is SO fake looking I'm confident no one would ever mistake it for being the real deal. (At least I've managed to avoid any red paint so far.)
While researching this topic, I stumbled across the pro-fur site furfashionguide.com, which offers up its "top 10 reasons to wear fur," which include: warmth, long-lasting, environmentally-friendly (!), versatile ("Wear it with jeans or an evening gown!"), supporting livelihood and cultures ("The fur trade is a proud North American heritage"), and, of course, fashion. In my mind, these are all, to quote a British pal, "complete codswallop."
In the mid-1990s, the fur industry appeared to be as dead as a skinned mink. Calvin Klein publicly renounced the use of animal pelts in his designs, and fashion photographer David Bailey shot a graphic billboard campaign with the statement "It takes 40 dumb animals to make a fur coat...but only one to wear it." The most glamorous models in the world were falling over themselves to appear in ads for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), promoting fake fur and damning the real thing.
More than a decade later, and despite the current recession, fur has quietly been making a comeback, and some have exercised a model's prerogative to change her mind. Naomi Campbell was sacked as a spokeswoman for PETA after modeling fur on the catwalk, and Cindy Crawford flip-flopped on her anti-fur feelings when she signed up as the face of Blackglama fur coats.
But the ever persistent PETA continues to recruit pretty faces (and bodies) for its anti-fur adverts, including Christian Serratos of Twilight fame, professional ballroom dancer Karina Smirnoff, actress Eva Mendes and model Joanna Krupa who all appear sans a stitch in the "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign.
Since I'm sure it will come up in the comments, yes, I do wear wool, silk and leather for the simple reason that they feel more essential, whereas fur does not. Everyone draws the line somewhere. Call me a hypocrite if you must. If you're looking for alternatives to these animal-derived fabrics, here are a few, although many argue that they come with their own drawbacks (namely toxic processing chemicals that are detrimental to the environment): Polartec Wind Pro (made from recycled plastic soda bottles), Tencel (made from wood pulp), bamboo textiles, acrylics, brushed cotton and rayon.
So here's your moment of truth:
Would you or do you wear fur?
Or perhaps you only dust off furry family heirlooms for special occasions?
Do you avoid fur because of ethical concerns or for fear of being doused in a bucket of red paint (especially in this town)?
Do you think it's possible to call yourself an animal lover (i.e. pet lover) and still wear fur?
I think that in our region where cotton and hemp is readily available for clothing, to kill an animal for the purposes of clothing alone is just wrong. Its not like we need to wear them to keep warm. Not to mention that in order to make one garment from these oh so soft creatures like minks and others, it takes several of the animals. Its just such a waste. I feel like killing an animal for anything other than necessity is cruel. I can understand arctic tribes wearing fur, for obvious reasons, this is a necessity, not to mention they probably eat the meat that lived under that fur. In my opinion, unless you also eat the meat, fur is wrong. I'm not going to attack anyone for wearing fur, I might make an inference on the persons character, but I would never openly criticize their choice.
Heather
The Witchy Momma
Rise up this morning, smile at the rising sun; Three little birds, pitch by my doorstep; Singing sweet songs, a melody pure and true; Singing, this is my message to you-ou-ou; Singing Don't worry, about a thing; Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
I don't wear fur. I don't believe an animal should be killed for the purpose of being an accessory unless you are dirt poor and need to wear fur out survival. I have the same views on hunting for sport. It's just vile. That being said I hate PETA and think they are over zealots. They have no right to dump paint on anyones property.
Fur made from factories where they breed animals just to kill them to me is wrong. Hunting just to have a deer head mounted on your wall is wrong. However, if you kill something such as a deer for food (or any other animal) or you kill to protect (such as people do with snakes) I think if you can use parts of the animal you should. Many people wear leather and think nothing of it or where it comes from. Fur, leather, skins of any type should be used if you are a hunter. I have an arrangement with a hunting club (who uses live traps for the most part), if they are required to shoot something that I get it (unless it is rabid or a bird that died because those have to be given to the local health department or at least they have to be notified and they decide what should be done with them). Just as the cows used for hamburger they should use the hide as well for something. I don't believe in waste.
I love animals. I'm not opposed to wearing fur. I don't, only because I don't have any. I would if someone bought it for me. I did as a child. I ride a Harley. I wear alot of leather. Same animal. It's about safety. They haven't readily made motorcycle wear in kevlar yet. I have leather boots/shoes. There is suede on some of my sneakers....same animal. Oh look, there's the leather recliner. Same animal. Ahhh yea, the leather interior of my car. Same animal. Oh look at my beautiful serving set. Ivory handles. Animal. Ohhh. my soft bed pillow. Oh feathers. Animal. And on and on it goes. Look around your house.
im a meat eater and i dont believe in wasting any part of the animal. i wouldnt throw the hide in the dumpster. you can be a carnivore and still respect the land and its inhabitants. life is sometimes mistaken for a disney movie. i agree in not wasting an animal purely for one thing, like its cape or horn, or gallbladder.
I guess since I'm also a meat-eater that I would rather not waste animal parts too...that being said....
I personally wouldn't wear real leather or fur...it feels somewhat weird to think that I'm wearing a dead animal. (*laughs*...yes, weirder than eating one.)
Would you or do you wear fur?
Not in a million years.
Or perhaps you only dust off furry family heirlooms for special occasions?
Not a one. Thank God.
Do you avoid fur because of ethical concerns or for fear of being doused in a bucket of red paint (especially in this town)?
I avoid it because it's cruel and not even in the realm of a 'need'.
Do you think it's possible to call yourself an animal lover (i.e. pet lover) and still wear fur?
Yes, in it's truest sense.
Quoting 623Mexicana:
i find nothing wrong with it.. we eat them, and use them in our household furniture, and such.. so whats wrong with wearing them??
Nothing. Are you eating chinchilla? Dog? Raccoon? Or is most of that (genitally electrocuted) animal left to waste?
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This Nevada mom of two - who are just 18 months apart! - is married to her high school sweetheart and loves to craft in her free time.
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