Fur has become an almost expected part of celebrity culture with the likes of Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Rachel Zoe all pushing the trend throughout the year. While we are becoming used to its appearance, does that make it acceptable and should we be allowing designers to raise the percentage of fur in collections, year upon year?
The Telegraph spoke to Mark Oaten, the CEO of the IFF, who pointed out that alongside the recent cold weather in North America, the recent surge in popularity of fur on the catwalk was one of the main factors contributing to the increase in popularity of the fur trade. “It’s easy to get caught up in the emotions the business can generate, but the truth is that the fur trade is an economic cornerstone in Europe and beyond. Much of the fashion and increasingly the soft furnishings world relies on fur — and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.”
Whether this is the case or not, there are many who do not see these figures as something just to accept. Vogue Uk spoke to PETA today who told them, “No matter what the industry has to say for itself, ripping the fur from animals who did not want to die just for a coat can never be defensible.”
It cannot be denied that the industry is certainly profitable, but it is unlikely that the issue will ever remain uncontested.
