Fur clothing

Fur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals. Fur is one of the oldest forms of clothing, thought widely used as hominids first expanded outside of Africa. Some view fur as luxurious; others, including some citizens of the first world, reject it due to animal welfare and ethical concerns. The term 'a fur' is often used to refer to a coat, wrap, or shawl made from the fur of animals.

A fur mozetta, worn by a canon, Flanders

History and use

Fur is generally thought to have been among the first materials used for clothing and bodily decoration. The exact date when fur was first used in clothing is debated. It is known that several species of hominoids including Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis used fur clothing.

Nutria jacket, reversible (2008)

Wholesale dealer (Leipzig, 1862)

Fur or skin clothing of some form is worn in virtually every country. Furs are especially popular in colder countries due to their excellent properties of insulation. The Inuit peoples of the Arctic relied on fur for most of their clothing, and it also forms a part of traditional Russian, Scandinavian and Japanese clothing.

Animal furs used in garments and trim may be dyed bright colors or with patterns, often to mimic exotic animal pelts: alternatively they may be left their original pattern and colour. Fur may be shorn down to imitate the feel of a soft velvet fabric, creating a fabric called shearling.

Varieties of fur

Common animal sources for fur clothing and fur trimmed accessories include fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat (ermine), otter, sable, seals, cats, dogs, coyotes, and chinchilla. Some of these are more highly prized than others, and there are many grades and colors of many furs available. Not surprisingly, fur from cold-weather animals tends to be thicker and to have greater warming qualities.

Some furs, particularly those of boreal animals, come in white (or nearly-white) in the winter, and a dark shade the rest of the year. The colors may have particular significance, as in the white ermine used in coronation robes.

Processing of fur

The manufacturing of fur clothing involves obtaining animal pelts where the hair is left on the animal's processed skin. In contrast, leather made from any animal hide involves removing the fur from the skin and using only the tanned skin. The use of wool involves shearing the animal's hair from the living animal, so that the wool can be regrown. Fake fur or "faux fur" designates any synthetic material, produced from oil, that attempts to mimic the appearance and feel of real fur.

The chemical treatment of fur to increase its felting quality is known as carroting, as the process tends to turn the tips of the fur a yellowish-red "carrot like" color.

A furrier is a person who makes, repairs, alters, cleans, or otherwise deals in furs of animals. Fur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals.

Anti-fur campaigns

Main article: Fur farming

Anti-fur activists approach fur clothing wearers with a sign reading 'Attention! Skin of tortured animals'

Anti-fur campaigns reached a peak in the 1980s and 1990s, with the participation of numerous celebrities.

Animal rights advocates object to the trapping and killing of wildlife, and to the confinement and killing of animals on fur farms due to concerns about the animals' welfare, possible suffering, or death in general.

Some animal welfare groups have disrupted fur fashion shows with protests while others sponsor anti-fur poster contests and fashion shows featuring faux furs or other alternatives to fur clothing. These groups sponsor "Compassionate Fashion Day" on the third Saturday of August to promote their anti-fur message. Other groups participate in "Fur Free Friday", an event held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving that occurs globally with the intent to bring the issue of fur to light through educational displays, protests and other methods of campaigning.

One of the most controversial areas of the fur industry is the annual seal hunt held in Canada. Many have criticized the hunt as being cruel, but defenders of the hunt and Canadian government biologists state that it is humane and sustainable, although the hunt involves bludgeoning the seals. In Canada, a government survey showed two thirds of Canadians supported the seal hunt if the regulations under Canadian law are enforced. Three quarters of Canadians were not opposed to the seal hunt, after being informed of these regulations. One quarter was opposed. While government regulations require that the killing of seals be conducted humanely, some seal hunters have been accused of not following these regulations.

Products from all marine mammals, even from abundant populations and regulated hunts, such as the Canadian seal hunt, are banned in the United States, Croatia, Mexico, Belgium and The Netherlands. Plans for a similar ban are under way in Germany and Italy.

Fur trade

Main article: fur trade

The fur trade is the worldwide buying and selling of fur for clothing and other purposes. The fur trade was one of the driving forces of exploration of North America and the Russian Far East.