As it gets into the colder months, those of us that are particularly fashion conscious may be wanting to add a bit of fur into our wardrobes. Fur farming is illegal in the UK, so most UK based brands are likely to sell faux-fur based products in their stores and online, however the importation of fur products into the UK is still legal, meaning that not everything available to buy in our shops is guaranteed to be faux-fur. This then brings about some problems; many people are against the use of real animal fur being used in the fashion industry, as it is seen as unnecessary cruelty towards animals, and will not want to accidentally purchase real fur believing it to be faux-fur. However, the production of faux-fur can also have negative impacts, meaning that some may favour a real fur product over faux fur, depending on personal values.
Photo: Refinery28
Telling The Difference Between Real & Faux
There are a few ways to differentiate between real and faux fur, such as the shape of the fibres and the base the fur is attached to. For more information about telling them apart, to ensure you know what’s really in your hands, check out this helpful guide.
Real or Faux?
Many believe that real fur products should be banned, due to animal cruelty issues in the fur-farming industry. Animals are frequently kept in cruel and uncomfortable conditions, and may believe that animals should not be killed just for the use of their fur for fashion. However, many also believe that the rate that faux-fur is produced in the fast-fashion industry has harmful impacts on the environment, that can have negative impacts on both humans and animals. Depending on the type of animal fur in use, in comparison to faux-fur, there are arguments to suggest that animal fur may actually be less harmful for animals and the environment in the long run.
