2024 – FUR IS BACK

We always knew the good news would start to slow down and eventually the fur industry would catch a break and regain some of what they have lost thanks to animal advocates like you relentlessly taking to streets.

ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END

Real fur is seeing a resurgence in the fashion industry in part to the popularity of the “mob-wife” aesthetic. Though started as a Tik Tok trend among influencers, celebrities and designers have joined in on the trend covering models head to toe with the skins of wildlife to hit the runway for New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

“Almost every designer on the schedule included a fur coat, stole or accessory of some kind within their autumn/winter 2024 collections” – Drapers Magazine

Laquan Smith and Rome Hunte both went heavy on the fur in their collections and both of them are endorsed by none other then Saga Furs. For those unaware of Saga, they have been trying to put a positive spin on cruelty for decades. With the help of LVMH they have developed a trace program called Furmark with the goal to put designers and consumers with ethical concerns at ease knowing that Furmark certified furs were killed “humanely”.

CELEBRITY GOSSIP

The first glimpse of fur making it’s way back into pop culture after years of ridicule was when Kim Kardasian modeled an over-sized fox fur hat for Marc Jacobs in 2023. Previously Kim had sworn fur off and told the tabloids she had recreated all of her favorite fur pieces into faux fur items. .

This was also the first time Marc Jacobs had used fur since 2018 and what added insult to injury is that Marc Jacobs had sworn off fur in social media comments in 2022 – what later turned out to be a lie when Marc Jacobs used fur on the runway and in a ready to wear collection.

While we try not to indulge ourselves in celebrity gossip we would be lying if these incidents did not matter for the state of fur in fashion.

“Seeing Cardi B on the runway in a blue Balenciaga coat seemed to solidify that fur coats will prevail in 2024. “ – Essence

VINTAGE FUR AND GEN Z

Not all of craze is over NYFW or the latest social media trends have been about new furs. In fact, the generation responsible for most of the hype prefer second hand clothing – including fur.

When asked for comment, president of Madison Avenue Furs, & Henry Cowit, Inc (largest buyer of second-hand furs in the U.S.) noted an influx of Gen Z and millenial girls seeking “flashy, very full coats” prompted amid the mob-wife trend. Cowit believes this uptick of youth consumers is also because of the belief that it “definitely looks and feels nicer” and is more “ethical” than buying faux, a narrative often pushed by executives in the fur industry.

While this may seem harmless at a glance, the reality is that even vintage fur can change societies perception of once again using real fur in fashion.

THE FUR INDUSTRY IS ORGANIZED

If you think this uptick in fur sales is coincidence think again.

The fur industry may have had a rough couple years, easily some of there worst in history. But the fur industry has been resilient in the past and recovered thanks to marketing around iconic fashion campaigns such as Blackglama and at times given gifts from die hard supporters such as Ana Wintour and Vogue Magazine insisting that fur remain on the cover of the September issue.

As of November 16^th, 2023 – the Furcycle Label is officially launched to create a “second-hand luxury market” as “consumption soars”, and came just a year after their Furmark trace program was launched.

A MESSAGE TO THE MOVEMENT

Our message to activists lies in movement history. In the early 1990s, activists made similar progress against fur, setting the prior record for decreased pelt production (-27%). With the exception of a few groups, a self-assured animal rights movement wrote the industry off as dead and shifted focus. The result was an industry comeback.

Abolishing fur is possible – but only if we work together.

THE NEXT GLOBAL ACTION AGAINST FUR IS APRIL 19TH – 21ST

CAFT USA

“But sustainability is still very much a fringe issue judging by the runways, as well as the earnest return of fur.”- Vogue Business

“At New York Fashion Week, designers from Prabal Gurung to Khaite were proving that fur is here to stay.” – Who What Wear

“We sold the first batch of furs in a matter of minutes,” said Bloomingdale. The two now host sales three times a month, and Matsumoto said it’s breathed new life into the business” – Business of Fashion

Below, discover the ways that furry outwear stole this Fashion Week,” – Harpers Bazaar