Fur seems to be a big fashion trend this season, with many designers dressing their runway models in it. The good news is, that they are appeasing the critics with high quality faux fur, and by using lamb’s wool and rabbit fur recycled from the meat industry. The recession has taken a toll on luxury items, effecting the use of fur in the fashion industry over the last few years. But luxury is making a comeback, and fur, though used now more as trim and accessories, is the thing to wear this year. Fur is being sold as an investment, that will outlast most other trendy fashion items. The versatility and characteristics of fur, real or fake, can change a common item into something unique.
Animal activists, are suspect of the animal by-product claim of some designers claiming that the demand for fur far outweighs availability. They also fear that the use of fake fur will lead to a demand for the real thing.
Some designers have found a way to offer real fur, and are advertising it as “guilt free”. They are using the fur of Nutria, a rodent that is over-populating the swamps in Louisiana. When the state placed a bounty on the destructive animals, designers saw the opportunity to put the fur to good use. The Nutria was brought into the country in the 30′s from South American specifically for their fur and was a favorite in early Hollywood. As fur lost popularity, the rodents were left alone and have since taken over the swamp lands. Now with fur gaining popularity, it is showing up again in fashion as an alternative to faux fur or real fur harvested from fur farms. Activists denounce the “guilt free” claim, saying eradicating the animals is not humane and they should be left alone. This hasn’t effected the demand for it, as more and more designers are using “guilt free” Nutria in their fashions.