Back in the day, during the colder months, you knew when it was time to bring out your fall/winter gear. The previously mentioned gear included bubble coats, wool blazers, pea coats, scarves, boots, and if you were lucky, you had a fur coat. At one point in time, it was a sign of wealth and class. The more, the better, but you were still good if you had even one fur coat. It could have been mink, chinchilla, rabbit or fox, the most important thing was that it was clean and 100% real fur. It was a crime against fashion and good taste to show up in a faux (pronounced like foe) or fake fur. Things change and the attitudes toward fur are no different.
As people became more cognizant of their impact on the world, they started to rethink a lot of things and the world of fashion received a big knock on the door. Over time, some started to look upon beloved fashion accessories made of animal fur and skin with disgust. Animal rights group PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) were really vocal and physical with fashion frontiers that wore and/or used animal products. Some people stopped using/wearing animal products, while others decided to stay in love with their fashion choices.
It seems that fashion has taken note and decided to switch things up. With technological advances, fashion no longer has to stay stuck in trends and limits of yesterday. Some companies create fabrics (synthetic) and still charge prices some customers are willing to pay. Because of the shift in thinking and manufacturing, fashion brands are moving toward cruelty free “animal” skins. Now, even some of your favorite celebrity may be photographed wearing a designer faux fur or even “vegan” leather. Gone are the days of being labeled tacky for wearing faux fur. To be honest, it seems more of a personal choice than just a strictly right or wrong situation. A mink coat is lovely to the touch and if taken care of properly, it can last a lifetime, but a faux mink coat is just as equally lovely too. Ultimately, it comes down to 2 main factors: personal choice and money.
