Fur Used in Clothing
Fur is used by more than 400 international designers in their collections. It is chosen over fake fur for its softness and the way light reflects off it, giving it a 3-D quality. While fur supporters claim that real fur comes from a sustainable source, unlike fake fur, which is made from nonrenewable petroleum products, those against fur use argue that animals are not being treated humanely.
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Types
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The most commonly used types of fur in clothing are silver fox, blue fox, coyote, North American beaver and Finn racoon. Coyote and Finn racoon fur is thick and often used for coats and trims. Silver fox fur is glossy, with a slight shimmer and is used for collars and stoles, while blue fox fur is white, often dyed and is used in trims and full-length coats. North American beaver fur can be any shade from dark brown to blond and also is used in trims and full-length items.
Function
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Fur farmers sell furs at auction houses. The main ones are close to where the farms are located in Seattle; Toronto; Copenhagen, Denmark; Helsinki, FInland; and St. Petersburg, Russia. Furs are bundled together, and buyers can inspect them before bidding. The people doing the buying at auctions are usually brokers acting on behalf of a manufacturer. After the auction, the fur is sent off to be dyed before being shipped to the manufacturer.
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Controversy
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The fur industry has come under fire on many occasions from animal rights campaigners, who claim animals on fur farms spend their lives trapped in cages, which keeps them from doing everyday activities such as swimming and climbing. The methods of killing the animals also have been under fire. Some of the methods used for killing the animals include gassing, neck-breaking and anal electrocution, according to the International Animal Assistance Network.
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References
- Photo Credit the girl in a fur coat image by rufar from Fotolia.com
