On Fur

Hi guys! I hope you've all had a lovely week. Today I wanted to talk to you about, and share my opinions on something controversial – fur.

The debate on real fur and how ethical it is to wear it is nothing new. With PETA spraying paint over fashionistas (or just regular people wearing Canada Goose) who have the audacity (or maybe courage) to wear real fur, and the regular backlash against runways showcasing the luscious textile, the media has made fur one of the biggest discussions amongst fashion lovers everywhere. Even I've gotten social media backlash for making a comment saying how much I loved the fur during NYFW this year. Another Instagram user tagged me in a comment to say how horrible a person I was after I commented on a photo of all the fur accents on the runway from mbfashionweek.

So here's my honest opinion on fur.

I'm not against fur – real or faux. I love it. I own a ton of faux fur, and a few pieces made from real fur. These are all vintage pieces, and multiple fur coats and stoles have been passed down through my family, as well as being thrifted for some amazing prices. On the other hand, I can't say I'm not willing to buy new fur if I think a piece will be and regularly worn. The one thing I am absolutely against is when an endangered animal is used for it's fur. I also love leather, feather accented pieces, silk, down-filled coats, etc. I own a lot of leather in fact. And down-filled jackets and duvets are a must in Canada. Fur and animal produced textiles are partly about fashion, and partly about practicality (ie. warmth when it's -40º) for me. How can I say I'm against fur when I'm not against other animal hides?

I regularly see bloggers (both mega-popular ones and smaller ones) tout how they only wear faux fur and how they would never wear real fur despite how often designers feature it. And yet... they own ten pairs of leather pants and jackets, leather shoes and purses, feathered skirts, silk tops, etc. For me, it's a bit hypocritical. Do your research and you'll find these animals live in deplorable conditions, just like those farmed for the fur industry, and the same as in the food industry. And for the record, leather is not a meat byproduct as many seem to believe; the cows are often killed for their hide and then tossed (I really wish this wasn't true, as it truly is a complete waste and drain on the ecosystem).

Now, that's not to say there isn't anyone who is against all animal products. There definitely are bloggers and others in the fashion industry who won't buy animal products whatsoever, and choose instead the man-made equivalent, or even just an ethically produced equivalent.  Kudos to them. There are also the ones who take it a step further and either only eat ethically produced animal products, or are vegetarian or vegan. I think this is great, and really respectable to be honest.

In the end, I think it's so important to not only respect other people's opinions on the topic, but to also educate yourself. If you're only against real fur and not leather or feathers, that's fine, but don't just be against fur because the media told you to be. Think for yourself, and stay true to yourself.