Sep 13th, 2015, 01:22 PM

Opinion: Fur Has No Place in 2015 Fashion

By Lucille Befort
Source: Peta
Is there a skeleton in your closet?

It's that time of the year again: cold weather, New York and Paris Fashion Week. The occasion to see many fashionistas wearing fur coats, winter jackets and other accessories made out of animals. As autumn arrives don't forget the facts: whether it came from an animal on a fur farm, every fur coat caused an animal tremendous suffering and took away a life. 

The bloody fur business has been a longtime debate in the fashion industry, yet, the vegan trend for food is now applying to clothing with the widespread hashtag #WearVegan. The recent Hermès Birkin bag scandal, pointed out by PETA's breaking investigation of crocodiles farms resulted of a strongly reaction from the international community. The fashion icon and inspiration behind the Birkin bag, Jane Birkin demanded the handbag to be renamed. No matter the what Hermès decides, the conversation for animal rights has been brought to the public and it's time to talk about.

Reasons not to wear fur are well known nowadays: animals killed for fur are often cramped to filthy cages for their entire lives, and farmers use the cheapest killing methods they can. Besides, the globalization of fur trade has made it impossible to know where the products really come from. China supplies more than half of the total fur exports. This fur is often deliberately mislabeled since they are also using dogs and cats, who were maybe someone's beloved companion, stolen to be made into a fur coat. So would you wear your dog? In case you still need some convincing, this video might help.

 
Often when consumers are buying this type of product, whether it is a warm jacket or a pair of gloves, they are not thinking about 
the bloody business they are supporting. Most people are not uncaring: they are simply not aware or are misled by false labeling and fairy tales about how those ten chinchillas had a marvellous life before you get to wear them.
 
The good news is there is no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool! There are animal-friendly alternatives increasing their popularity like faux fur, which is a material made of synthetic fibers designed to resemble fur. Fake fur is amazing and widely available, yet as mentioned above, it is often hard to dinstinguish real from faux, even if after looking closer you can really see the difference. Asos is just one of many fashions brands today that have decided to go faux-fur. 
 
The easiest way to cease this slaughter is to start with your own habits and be a reponsible, thoughtful consumer. 
I recently took the decision to stop buying fur, after understanding the cruelty I was collaborating with.
I really encourage you, your friends and family to do the same. 
 
So please consider the animals this season and go no-fur or faux fur!
 
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