How Much Fur Does it Take to Make a Coat?
Fur is known for being a reference to describe the hair of non-human mammals, and its basic characteristic is that it is leather with the hair intact for the use of its insulating properties or can be also known as a pelt. Controversy has plagued the fur market. Its its use in clothesmaking has been condemned by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Fur is among the first materials used for clothing and in some cultures, for body decoration. Even in current times, fur is commonly used in arctic climates. In some more civilized societies, it is used to make expensive designer clothing viewed as a luxury and a status symbol -- a practice that is heavily criticized in American culture because of its implications to animals.
Types
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There are several variations of fur used in clothing and accessories. The most commonly used are seal, cat, fox, opossum, mink, ermine, otter, beaver, sable, dog, coyote, chinchilla and rabbit. Each pelt has its own characteristics. determined by the two layers of hair that make it up: grown and guard hair. The rarity, size, texture and number of pelts needed to make a complete garment determine the fur's worth. It can take around 100 to 150 pelts for a waist-length coat and at least 250 pelts to complete a full-length coat, depending on the animal used.
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Size
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Individuals who choose to purchase and wear fur reconcile the practice with their own values. In some instances, the amount of animals needed is a factor. A single, full-length coat made from chinchilla fur may require as many as 150 pelts (skins), because chinchillas are small. A coat of red fox may use 40. There are conflicting views over whether obtaining the fur is cruelty to the animal.
Geography
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Fur trading was one of the earliest and most important industries in North America. Prior to the colonization of the Americas, Russia was the leading trader in fur. Wearing fur is still commonly accepted in that country.
Warning
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Today, wearing fur has become more of a liability than a fashion statement. Most high-end designers have opted to stop producing garments that use animal fur, and those who have not have decreased the number of garments that do contain fur. With organizations such as PETA and Humane Society International protesting the use of animal fur, its presence has become less prevalent in social settings. It's now viewed as a cultural faux pas, comparable to discussing religion and politics at a dinner party.
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