Faux Fur: Fashion’s Favourite Fabric

By IMAGE
11th Jul 2017

Shrimps

Fur is still seen as the last word in luxury in many markets. And yet, with Vogue Paris unveiling their latest cover shoot yesterday, which stars a faux fur-clad Gisele B?ndchen cradling a baby kangaroo and reprimanding the use of real fur, we can’t help but notice a welcome (and much-needed) shift in an industry which has had a less-than-stellar record endorsing cruelty-free fashion. Furthermore, with Net-A-Porter, a pioneer in the luxury e-commerce sector, revealing last month that they will be going completely fur-free, there appears to be a glimmer of hope that high-end conglomerates are starting to listen to their customers, choosing ethics rather than economics.

And while big businesses like Net-A-Porter and Vogue Paris should be lauded for taking a recent stand against animal cruelty, it should be noted that designers such as Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and London-based, Alexa Chung-endorsed label Shrimps have been flying the faux flag for years. And why shouldn’t they? Modern faux fur is nothing like its 1990s polyester counterpart. With advancements in modern technology, faux fur not only feels luxurious (it’s made using a silky soft modacrylic blend), but scan through any AW17 catwalk collection and you’ll be hard pressed to decipher the superficial difference between the two.

The high street has also been quick on the uptake, rolling out some convincingly authentic-looking alternatives that work year-round.

So, why not wrap yourself up in one of our furry picks below? Being ethical has never looked, and felt, so good.