The ‘Buying From Retailers That Sell Real Fur Products’ Dilemma

The real fur vs faux fur debate: Should we buy from a retailer that also sells real fur products? What are the ethics on this, and what if you've already bought something from them, not knowing at the time that they sell real fur too?

Real fur? Yeah, not cool (I’m a faux fur girl all the way). But are you endorsing real fur if you buy goods from a retailer that happens to sell some real fur products…?

I’ve been thinking about the real fur vs fake fur debate today as I had a mini dilemma this morning: Is it acceptable to buy products from a company that sells some real fur products?

It goes without saying that I do not buy or wear – or aspire to buy or wear – real fur. I won’t go into my reasons for not wanting to wear it as I’m sure the majority of people reading this are anti-real fur as well and share my feelings about why I don’t.

However, this week I was contacted by a company rep who, after I replied to an email offering me a gifted item, emailed back to ask if I wanted the real fur or the faux fur version (we’re talking a fur trim on something, not a full coat here).

And to be honest, I was absolutely horrified at first. What I initially wanted to reply was Why on EARTH would I want the real fur version?! I even have a no-fur policy on my Work With Me page.

So I went straight on the website and looked at the item I had picked out: there was nothing about real fur, in fact there was no description of the material content at all. The only slight giveaway was that on the “Shop” dropdown menu, it listed one version as “faux fur XXXs” [I don’t want to give away what the items are at this stage] and the other version of the same item had a general description but didn’t mention real fur. This I hadn’t noticed at first, I think because I’d initially typed in a description in the search box to look for a particular item before I was asked the real or faux question.

 

The “do I buy from retailers that sell real fur” dilemma

This made me think: if I’m against the buying or the wearing of real fur, is it okay to buy (or in my case, work with) a retailer that happens to also sell real fur products?

One shop I don’t EVER go into or shop from: Harrods. I have various reasons:

I worked for a luxury concession in Selfridges in the 90s and I was offered a transfer to Harrods for more money, but I turned it down because I’d heard how appallingly they [=ahem= Mohamed Al Fayed…] treated their staff – it may well be VERY different now, but hey, I hold retail grudges.

Also, more importantly than my 23-year-old grudge aimed at an unsavoury 88-year-old businessman, was the fact that they STILL sell real fur products. Thankfully Selfridges stopped selling real fur in 2005, as did Liberty. Net-a-Porter announced – better late than never – in June 2017 that they would no longer sell real fur products.

I rarely buy designer goods. Correct that – I NEVER buy designer goods. So I don’t go into large designer-heavy department stores very often, but I’ll always pop into Selfridges and get something if I’m down that end of Oxford Street. I know that I’m buying from a retailer that doesn’t sell (and therefore doesn’t promote the use of) real fur.

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In order to make up my mind, I did what any girl does: I asked my girlfriends for their thoughts. Whilst I didn’t really get a 100% straight answer from any of them (to be fair we’re all busy ladies!), it did create a mini-debate and a few interesting points were raised in our Whatsapp group. For example, one pointed out to me that a brand I had worked with last year sold many real fur products, including full-on mink fur coats for over £3,000.

Yep – I was horrified. It was summer and I obviously didn’t stumble across anything fur.

[tweetshare tweet=”The dilemma: Are you endorsing real fur if you buy goods from a retailer that happens to sell some real fur products…?” username=”notlamb”]

Therein lies the dilemma: Assuming we’re anti-real fur, should we search the site of every retailer we’re about to buy from to see if they sell real fur products? Are you effectively “supporting” the selling of real fur if you buy other things from them?

As a blogger with a no-fur policy, am I a hypocrite if I work with a brand that (unknowingly to me) sells some items with real fur trims?

 

The faux fur ethics vs environment debate

Two things I read recently that opened my eyes: Anna of Anna’s Island Style wrote a post last year about how the manufacture of faux fur is really bad for the environment, which brings us onto the ethics vs environment issue that we have to weigh up. (It’s a really interesting post, don’t miss it.) And then, horrifyingly, it was reported in the autumn that some of the products sold in the UK that are advertised as faux fur are actually real fur… WTAF?!

I don’t really know where I’m going with this, as I haven’t yet made up my mind about the question I asked in the opening paragraph. I’m going to ask the company rep that contacted me about their fur policy and see what they say, and then I’ll decide what to do.

We shall see…!

KEEPING IN MIND THAT MY QUESTION IS ABOUT BUYING GOODS FROM RETAILERS THAT HAPPEN TO SELL REAL FUR GOODS AS WELL (NOT THE ACTUAL ETHICS OF WEARING REAL FUR AND FUR FARMS, I’M STARTING THIS DISCUSSION BY SAYING IT’S A GIVEN THAT THAT’S UNETHICAL AND PLAIN WRONG), WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!

Catherine

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54 Comments

  1. Alexa
    15 January 2018 / 3:54 pm

    Gosh, what a minefield! My own personal perspective is that I will not knowingly patronise any brand that sells real fur, and certainly wouldn’t wear it myself, even vintage. I don’t even wear faux fur either, as I don’t like the texture and wouldn’t want anyone to mistakenly think that I support the fur industry. Actually, I do my best to minimise my reliance on animal products in general. I don’t: eat meat; drink milk; wear silk, angora or sheepskin; buy wool or leather goods when there is a suitable alternative; or use toiletries or household products from brands that still carry out animal testing.

    That said, I’m not completely animal-free because it would not be practicable for me, and I just try to do my best, within my own limitations. And I think that’s all anyone can do. In these ethical grey areas, I think we all have to decide where our individual boundaries lie, and resist judging others if they make different choices to our own, as we don’t know what their circumstances might be.

    • catherine
      Author
      17 January 2018 / 2:53 pm

      So many wise words in that last paragraph, Alexa… I think what you’ve said does (should?) apply to just about everybody. We can only make the best choices and the best decisions based on the best information we have. Thanks so much for some great points to think about! x

  2. 15 January 2018 / 10:58 am

    That is a very tricky question. Certainly not an issue of black or white which makes it even more difficult to approach but necessary to reflect on. Thanks for hosting and have a lovely week. xo Sabina

    • catherine
      Author
      15 January 2018 / 12:06 pm

      It IS tricky, isn’t it Sabina…?

  3. 15 January 2018 / 10:54 am

    I can fully appreciate your dilemma having become vegan a few months ago. I have lots of leather shoes and bags, and this also has left me with a dilemma. For now I’ve decided to keep using them but not buy any more leather goods. Fur is a lot more emotive than leather, I suppose because eating cows is the norm for most people. You don’t have to dig too deep on the internet to find horrific footage of the cruelty that takes place at fur farms. Personally I would decline to work with a brand that sells fur – it sends out a powerful message that it’s not acceptable, and the more people that shun fur the quicker it will be consigned to the past. On a side note, I bought a couple of faux fur pom pom bag charms on eBay (they were definitely faux fur) and my daughter wanted one. So I ordered another one that explicitly said “faux fur” but when it arrived I immediately suspected it was real. I emailed them to say I was going to send it for analysis, but I haven’t got around to doing it yet. The seller asked me to send a photo, but we all know it’s impossible to tell unless you feel it and inspect the base where the hairs are fixed to the material/skin. I’m now very wary of buying “faux fur” in case it is actually real.

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

    • catherine
      Author
      17 January 2018 / 2:49 pm

      Well after the article that exposed the fact that some faux fur products are, indeed, real fur Emma, then your fears may well be justified!! For larger pieces of faux fur that I wear (a large scarf, for example) then the price makes it obvious that it’s faux. But small pom poms… that’s tough to know for sure. Thanks for your comments and POV! x

  4. 14 January 2018 / 8:40 pm

    I eat me and wear leather. I’m not sure…

    • catherine
      Author
      15 January 2018 / 10:50 am

      Same for me…!

  5. 14 January 2018 / 8:35 pm

    Ahem I’m one you didnt get an answer from in chat, sorry mate I missed it entirely. Better late than never I’ll give you my take now. Firstly I do buy from some brands that sell some fur products. Prada & Chanel for starters. Although I’ve not bought anything with fur on it from any of them. However I wear shearling & sheepskin & have contemplated buying recycled fur fashion. It’s important to me that these items should be ethically sourced & I believe that is entirely possible. Additionally, as I wear a lot of leather goods, I try to steer clear of the cheap items as they’ll be more likely to come from unethical sources. As a meat eater I’m in no position to take the high ground on this topic but I do think it’s a mine field once you realise that a cheap pair of leather shoes are just as likely to have come from a place of animal cruelty as a fur pom pom.
    Great post C xx

    • catherine
      Author
      15 January 2018 / 10:48 am

      No worries about missing the Q in the chat, MT! I did only ask it the same morning as the day I wrote the post 😉

      To be honest I didn’t think there was such a thing as “cheap” real fur, I thought all fur retailers put a huge markup on it. But interestingly this dilemma has made me think about leather more… something I’ll be looking into more thoroughly methinks! Thanks for the comment hon x

    • Danish Pastry
      16 January 2018 / 3:10 pm

      I’m with you on this one! Apart from ethical issues, cheap leather probably costs us more in the long run, even when we only take cost per wear into account!
      I know that apart from making their own shoes, ECCO are also one of the largest manufacturers of leather in the world, some produced in Europe, some in Asia following EU rules, they try to be socially sustainable. They don’t advertise who they sell their leather too, but some of the big designers have stated they use ECCO leather.
      Btw I don’t work for the company, I’ve just done some research!

  6. 14 January 2018 / 10:02 am

    This is a tricky situation Catherine. In this world we are constantly been bombarded by brands that have been in some way or another influental to the misfortunes of animals. I have to say that if I find a fur coat at the thrift store I would totally snatch it, just because it is second hand, because real fur let’s face it is on another level of quality.
    But buying from a brand, now that’s a different thing for me. Thinking about it, I don’t know where I actually stand with the fur question. It is a tough pickle for me. I do endorse people’s more and more consciouss buying and I am happy that most brands are transitioning into animal cruelty free products, but people are still buying expensive leather and fur and it is still been produced massively and it will continue.

    • catherine
      Author
      15 January 2018 / 10:40 am

      I’m not at all against the buying and wearing of vintage fur, but I just wouldn’t myself because real fur makes my skin crawl…! I’d like to think we’ve come a LONG way in 50 ish years, wearing fur openly is not socially acceptable like it was years ago. A tricky situation indeed, Keit! x

  7. 13 January 2018 / 8:39 pm

    You made some super interesting points. This is a super gray area that it seems like whatever a person does they are on the wrong side of the fence. I believe it is a debate that really needs to be had. I guess, we all have to go with your gut and follow what we believe in.

    Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend.

    • catherine
      Author
      15 January 2018 / 10:32 am

      Very good point about going with your gut, Patrick! Thanks for your comment

  8. 13 January 2018 / 4:02 pm

    Such a hard decision – you’ve made some good points!

    I’ve also wondered if wearing faux fur just makes the Fur Business flourish as it promotes visually that “Fur-Items” are lovely, beautiful and luxurious (i.e. something to desire and purchase). Am I promoting real fur even when I’m wearing faux-fur?

    And yes horrible that some things that are advertised as faux fur are not. It is a huge dilemma this whole faux fur vs real fur biz. I think it’s great to bring all of this up and to start asking ourselves these difficult questions!

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 7:12 pm

      Good point about wearing faux and asking if you’re therefore promoting the real thing KF – but then look at all the leopard print in the shops? I don’t believe we’re promoting the wearing of REAL leopard skin by having it as a print, so I’m happy that it doesn’t promote the (real) fur industry. But yes, there are so many separate dilemmas and levels to this debate! x

  9. Danish Pastry
    13 January 2018 / 2:57 pm

    What about the pharmaceutical industry? They pretty much have to test on animals at some point if they want a new drug approved. And while there are alternatives as far as clothing and cosmetics are concerned, that isn’t the case with healthcare.
    This is a complicated issue, and there is no one answer to this!

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 7:09 pm

      You’re right, it IS super complicated with no one answer…

  10. Fiona jk42
    13 January 2018 / 2:26 pm

    My view would be that if you discover that a company sells real fur, then do not purchase from them or work with them. You are in the lucky position that you can actually tell them your reasons and make it clear that you are against real fur products; most of us can only boycott the brand and hope they put 2 & 2 together and realise that fur is harming their business.
    BTW, the piece you read about the environmental costs of faux fur is based on information being disseminated by the real fur industry. What they are not saying is that the process by which animal fur is treated involves lots of noxious chemicals and is not “natural” or good for the environment. If you’ve ever been to Fez in Morocco and smelled the awful stench coming from their open-air tanneries you will know what I mean.

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 7:08 pm

      I think that was my initial instinct Fiona – to say no on the grounds that they have real fur products, and I know that information BEFORE working with them. I tend to go with my gut, so you’ve made a very good point there…!

      I don’t believe that ANY production of manmade materials is 100% environmentally sound, so again it’s something to look into more…!

  11. Lise
    13 January 2018 / 2:16 pm

    This is very interesting to me that you brought up this topic today. Just 2 days ago I was visiting a blog which was promoting real fox and coyote fur trimmed coats, and I was personally disgusted and commented so. And then I had an after-thought that maybe my opinion is extreme as I am a vegetarian for nearly 20 years. However I see nearly all of your readers feel the same way, vegetarian or not. In answer to your question I think if you didn’t know, it is not intentional, and so you are ‘not guilty’. Thanks so much for bringing this subject up. Lise

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:55 pm

      OMG really Lise?! That IS disgusting!! I have flatly refused to work with a brand who wanted me to promote their all-fur (real) range… why they think a random blogger would I have no idea, especially if she’s never worn real fur before. I don’t think you’re being extreme there at all – unless there is a NEED to wear a fur coat – like the Inuit have because they don’t exactly have department stores to go and shop in! – then to me it’s plain wrong. Like fox hunting being totally unnecessary – but that’s a whole other discussion…!!

      • Lorna
        6 February 2018 / 11:02 pm

        I know I am late to this post, but I only just came across it! I get this often too, I’ve probably had at least 7 offers in the last year from companies who just sell only fur coats, asking me to promote, not even asking if I wear real fur in the first place. I tell them where to go and that I don’t support real fur at all, which they should do their research on before assuming bloggers will promote anything. It bothers me to no end. I’ve been shocked as well by some bloggers promoting eyelashes which are made of mink fur (I didn’t even know this was a thing!) and thinking because a fur coat is vintage, it’s fine. I don’t get that part as it’s still supporting the fur trade and that means in 20 years time, some coats from now will be vintage. It doesn’t make it any better.

        To answer your question though, it’s a tough one. I’ve bought from many retailers I think that sell real fur, but it’s mostly because I haven’t ever paid much attention to any of the other products I didn’t want. I know Gucci said they have stopped selling fur going forward, which pleases me as I like the brand, and there’s been a huge turnaround with all the designers saying no to fur lately, so I hope it continues. I also eat meat (not wanting to think about it), and I do own leather items, but am repulsed by fur, so it’s a really interesting topic there which I don’t have a full answer to.

        Raindrops of Sapphire

  12. Patricia
    13 January 2018 / 2:03 pm

    As someone who eats meat and wears leather shoes, I find myself perplexed by my own revulsion to fur. I think that we are able to “forget” that our meat and leather are dead animals (sorry to be so blunt), but it’s harder to deny that fur is the skin of a dead animal. So…I try not to judge people who wear (or sell) fur. And on days like today here in Wisconsin, USA, with a windchill of -17 degrees Fahrenheit (-22.27 Celsius), I can certainly see why our forebearers wore fur!

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:45 pm

      Patricia I too eat meat and wear leather shoes and am repulsed by real fur (to the touch as well as the ethics behind it). My problem is that animals bred for fur are often bred so that they have hideous rolls of excess skin and therefore more fur, and their meat isn’t used, nor do they produce any other byproducts (that I know of). I can see why our forebearers wore fur too – like the Greenlanders that Emerald mentioned above! When they have a need I’m totally okay with it (as long as it’s humane), but rich Western women (and some men!!)… NO. Though I can’t see them EVER changing their minds about it unfortunately as real fur is such a status symbol to them 🙁

  13. 13 January 2018 / 1:21 pm

    Catherine, this is a very thought provoking topic indeed. Aside from the ethics and moral dilemma involved in the manufacturing of real fur anything ( I agree that most of us are of the same thinking there), I find real fur just plain gross anyway. First of all as pet lover/owner, I don’t even like their fur on my skin…so I sure as heck don’t want to wear the fur of any animal on my skin. Just yuck! I am a faux fur girl all the way, too. But I think I agree with Jodie that it would be impossible to investigate and discover all the ethic values of a company in order to make a 100% informed decision of whether you want to work with them. Not to mention, I’m sure companies can very easily mislead anyway. But this is definitely a very interesting topic for consideration and debate. I am interested to see the thoughts of others on this.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:37 pm

      I didn’t actually mention this Shelbee – but I also find the touch of real fur REVOLTING. It absolutely makes my skin crawl… it feels too much like stroking a lovely cat or dog or bunny but it’s just a skin – gross.

      It’ll be interesting to see what more information I’m given! x

      • Danish Pastry
        14 January 2018 / 7:24 am

        I suspect those of us who were teenagers, young adults when the anti fur campaign was at its highest have been conditioned to not like the feel of fur. It’s down to subconscious association.
        And a lot of people who eat meat, don’t like to think about the slaughtering of those animals. While working in a hospital has certainly made me less squeamish about these things (most of us can talk bodily functions while eating our lunch), I was brought up to know where my food came from.

        • catherine
          Author
          15 January 2018 / 10:37 am

          Hmm good point about growing up with high profile anti fur campaigns and being conditioned to dislike it. But then I eat meat and am terribly squeamish and get terribly upset at even the tiniest animal suffering. Very hard to know what to do here…!

  14. 13 January 2018 / 12:47 pm

    It appears we cannot win either way. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t definitely a dilemma that needs airing?

    bestest wishes

    Ashley x

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:34 pm

      You’re right, we are Ashley! To have good intentions and to make the best decision based on the facts you have is the main thing ^_^

  15. 13 January 2018 / 11:30 am

    I’m nearly a life-long vegetarian and have been a vegan at many times too (I gave up when I needed calcium in my diet to make sure my broken collarbone set and my bone density was maintained). I would definitely not buy from companies that openly sold fur products. But I can see how easy it would be do if the company wasn’t particularly open. I once had a pair of fabulous platforms with what I thought was fake fur. One day a friend looked at them and informed me that it was rabbit skin!

    I also love fake fur (especially if it’s red, green or purple!) and so it was disappointing to learn that too can bring its own set if issues. I don’t use animal-based or tested cosmetics, as far as I can be sure that the companies are telling me the truth. But it’s really hard to be completely ethical in this way as so many products are made from things and in processes you don’t know about.

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:27 pm

      I think it’s rabbit fur that’s used most often on things like fur trims and pom poms Emerald… As you say it’s SO hard because many companies are shady about giving you the facts. As I mentioned in the post, it wouldn’t OCCUR to me to think that a retailer might sell fur products when I’m looking at their summer dresses in July, so I wouldn’t think to go searching for real fur things. I’ll definitely be looking from now on though if they’re not based in the UK as our laws are pretty good on banning fur farming. So much to think about.

  16. 13 January 2018 / 9:30 am

    I was really shocked to see a full page advert in the latest Vogue for the British fur industry. I had no idea that fur was making a comeback?! I tend to think of fur as something I see passing by specialist shops abroad (Ireland, Greece, Spain all have a roaring trade it seems). I have never really thought about this dilemma of buying products from a company that sells fur, I think I am in too low a price bracket for that to be an issue! (I mean, I shop at M&S, they don’t sell fur do they?), and 90% of my shopping is second-hand. I know designer brands still use fur but I don’t buy designer! Back in October Gucci announced it was going fur-free. But there were some scandals last year about fur being labelled ‘faux fur’ having crept in, I think Missguided had a pair of shoes.

    Massive issue, this is just the tip of the iceberg!

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:22 pm

      Oh damn yes I forgot to mention that Vogue advert in the post P – I read about that and I was SO shocked too!! I have read that fur is making a (albeit small) “comeback”, I think they meant amongst celebs (grrrrrrrr). I can imagine it hasn’t changed for many rich women, esp. European ones. And yes I mentioned the real fur being used on things labelled as faux… awful, awful. I think you’d be surprised how many independent retailers have it, which is why I was so shocked to find out this brand I worked with last year sold it. It’s probably because they’re a European brand.

      And yes, just the tip of the iceberg as you say!! x

  17. 13 January 2018 / 8:48 am

    Catherine, I really enjoyed your post and you have given me something to think about. I have also managed a link-up. I hope I can share it properly now. Do I go back to the post and edit it to include the link-up hashtag..etc?

  18. Danish Pastry
    13 January 2018 / 8:40 am

    This is going to be controversial!
    My question here is do you wear and buy leather? If the answer is yes, then do you check to see if the leather is from a sustainable source and that animal welfare is good?
    The reason I ask is because living in Denmark, where there are a lot of mink farmers we are better informed about the Danish product, than I ever was in the UK (where we were mainly shown images of seal cub culls!)
    The mink is sustainably farmed, tanned according to eu rules, the ‘waste’ products are also used, minimising wastage. Danish mink is among the best in the world, and as the quality of the fur is directly related to animal welfare and the feed the mink are given.
    Do I own mink, no – I don’t like the way it looks. I do own a bag in seal skin! Back to the images of culling. But no, my seal skin comes from Greenland, which is one of the only countries allowed to export internationally. The seals are hunted legally and sustainably, mainly for their meat by the indigenous population. I am all for an industry that apart from being legal, actually helps to preserve a native culture that has been damaged enough by ‘well meaning’ westerners.
    I do have a problem with leather and fur products where sustainability and animal welfare isn’t as good as it can be. Not to mention how the skins are processed.

    • Danish Pastry
      13 January 2018 / 9:48 am

      What I didn’t say, is that in my opinion, the fur trade is no different to the leather trade – as long as the animals are cared for, and the products are treated sustainably (both socially and environmentally). I’m also very much in favour of all the animal being put to use, and as little as possible being waste. Biodiesel, bone meal etc to name two products.

      • catherine
        Author
        13 January 2018 / 6:23 pm

        Yes I definitely agree with this SJ, otherwise I feel I’d DEFINITELY be a hypocrite by wearing leather as well…

    • 13 January 2018 / 11:35 am

      You make a very good point about products that are considered normal or acceptable to wear – what do we say about those industries, for example. As I comment further down, I’ve been a vegetarian for most of my life. That said, I do understand why people eat meat (I once had a disagreement with a friend who said that indigenous Greenlanders should become vegan!). My main concern is that animals are treated ethically while they’re alive and are culled with the least suffering possible.

      • catherine
        Author
        13 January 2018 / 6:33 pm

        I definitely don’t agree that people that live in arctic countries should give up meat… they need it for their very survival out there!! They are living more like the way Man has lived for thousands of years so unless they started inhumane animal farms (which they hardly would) then them eating meat is fine with me…!

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 6:04 pm

      I thought about mentioning the real leather thing SJ, but I was worried the post would be getting too long and that I’d go off the (specific) topic a bit. But yes it is another question to ask yourself when trying to make up your mind about where you stand. I actually don’t own many REAL leather products. Many of my shoes are synthetic, but I have about five expensive handbags (nothing CRAZY expensive, in the £250-£450 price range) and three of them are real leather. The more expensive shoes are leather. But yes, I have thought about the leather issue since this has been brought to my attention, and it’s something I’m going to ask in future. I’d like to think that the leather comes from animals that are also used for meat and other byproducts, and if they’re not then I’ll want to know more.

      The animal welfare is the biggest issue I have with all this – there is so much to consider… but I’m glad I’m considering it more.

  19. 13 January 2018 / 7:11 am

    This is a dilema that professionally I’m met with. Not re fur but it’s a question as broad as if you have an ethical investment policy and won’t invest in say mining would you work with a bank that has mining company clients. Youd say yes as they all do realistically. However if there was a choice and many banks did not work with mining companies then it would be a no. So a retailer yes go ahead if all retailers of similar products did also sell farmed fur but no if there were a choice of those that don’t and , a no to a manufacturer, would be the way I’d go. But in my ignorance I didn’t think real farmed fur was allowed in the UK. This has shocked me. Brushed fur like in pompoms I feel is different.

    http://www.muttonstyle.com

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 5:00 pm

      I know that fur *farming* is banned in the UK Anna, but it doesn’t mean we can’t import items with real fur (like the real fur sold in Harrods, for example). Good point about whether there’s a choice, and to be fair the item I was looking at can be bought from many, many retailers… I initially accepted it because it was in a colourway I couldn’t find and had been looking for anyway. Thank you for raising a good point! x

  20. 13 January 2018 / 1:00 am

    What a great conversation to start! Thank you… Here in the US where department store chains have so many different subsidiaries, you might have to hunt through 7 or 8 different stores’ merchandise to find an answer. And as our stores are often less transparent, I imagine the task could be quite a challenge. I prefer faux myself, although still I have a real fur jacket I bought 30+ years ago at an estate sale. It needs repair and I haven’t been able to decide whether to spend the money or not… It feels wrong to do so, and equally wrong not to care for it as it still has years of good wear left in it.

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 4:56 pm

      I get the other dilemma of whether it’s okay to wear vintage fur Liz – IMO I think that you can’t change what happened 50 years ago, and environmentally it isn’t right to “throw away” a real fur vintage coat. I always think I’d rather donate it to a homeless charity because imagine how warm it would keep someone living on the streets…?

      • 13 January 2018 / 10:28 pm

        Love this idea! Thank you, Catherine! And if they don’t want a fur (washing issues), a theatre company can certainly use it…

        • catherine
          Author
          15 January 2018 / 10:50 am

          Another good idea!! x

  21. jodie filogomo
    13 January 2018 / 12:58 am

    Truthfully, I think it’d be hard to make sure a company’s ethics always aligns with our own in every way, shape and item. Not that you shouldn’t ask the question and research a little, but you can only find out so much….
    Have a great weekend, and thanks for the link up, Catherine!!
    XOOX
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • catherine
      Author
      13 January 2018 / 4:44 pm

      You’re right, Jodie – it IS hard to make sure of that. I think the main thing is caring and having SOME principles at least…!
      And thank you, happy weekend to you too x

  22. 12 January 2018 / 10:36 pm

    Gosh that’s a really interesting post and like you I’m torn. On balance I think I’d say No to working with them because you’re promoting a brand that supports the practice in some form. I suppose it’s similar to buying a cruelty free mascara from a company who still performs some animal testing on other products. (Don’t know if they exist, just trying to find an example of something similar ). Very interesting post!

    • catherine
      Author
      12 January 2018 / 10:55 pm

      Actually the beauty brand thing is a VERY good example Vicki – it’s a common dilemma because in China animal testing is mandatory, so if a beauty retailer wants to sell their products over there then they HAVE to test them on animals. So there’s debate over whether a brand is TRULY cruelty-free if they sell in China and therefore test on animals in some form (apologies if you know all this already, I wasn’t sure). I have to admit I DO buy from some brands who sell in China yet I believe in buying cruelty-free… oh lordy I have a new dilemma to add to my real fur retailer woes! 😉

      Thank you for your thoughts, it IS an interesting question as you say, it’s hard not to be torn…!

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