The ultimate in indulgence and luxury, fur coats have been prized for centuries as a sign of wealth, status, and style. As it is thought that fur was one of the earliest materials used for clothing by humans, fur has a long history in fashion, as well as a controversial one. While it is often found less objectionable to use the meat and other products of an animal in addition to its fur, many environmentally conscious people protest the breeding of certain animals, such as the mink, for the specific purpose of using only its fur in fur clothing. Because of this, faux, or ‘fake,’ fur was developed using synthetic materials, and is a popular environmentally conscious and cost friendly alternative to real fur. Additionally, with a greater awareness now of extinct and endangered species than was found just as recently as the early 20th century, many prized patterns of exotic animals such as the leopard and tiger are now duplicated with dyes and fur from more common animals, or faux fur, rather than being harvested from the actual animal.
Fur was initially used because of its ability to insulate efficiently from the bitter winter winds, and this use still holds true today. In addition to coats made wholly from real or faux fur, fur also shows up as an inside lining, or as a lining on the hoods, collars, and cuffs of other popular styles of clothing. The fashionable fur-lined parka, for example, carried by such companies such as Hooch and Bench, is a very popular item of outerwear for teen boys and girls, while the fur-lined bomber jacket is also a current trend. Fur-trimmed collars or fur-trimmed cuffs are also popular features on leather blazers and sweater coats or cardigans for women, and an inside fur lining is very common in suede coats for men and women.
While natural fur is often found in more neutral colours, dyes and faux fur can produce a fur or fur-lined coat in virtually any colour. This can put a vibrant pink or red faux fur coat in a young girl’s wardrobe, or a pale pink coat fashionable accented by a leopard-lined collar and cuffs. Whether you opt for the environmentally friendly faux fur or prefer the sumptuousness of the real thing, fur has proven a trend that has lasted for centuries, and will certainly endure well into the future.
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