Fur-Free Fashion Week 2019

London Fashion Week 2019

It’s very nearly time for the fashionistas of the world to see where the world of fashion will take its inspiration for Spring/Summer 2019. 

In 2018, LFW declared that its Autumn/Winter exhibition would be entirely fur-free. A bold move by designers such as Burberry, Gucci, Armani, Versace and others, who have historically used the material liberally in their collections, to emphasise the premium quality of their brands. 

As Gucci’s CEO, Marco Bizzarri, announced “fur is no longer modern,” so other designers are working on innovating, in the anticipation of trends that are being led by consumers. The cruelty-free movement has been applying pressure to high-fashion names for decades, but it has taken bold strokes by the biggest names to turn the tide, with fashion power-house Chanel going even further in winter 2018 by banning not only fur, but all exotic skins from its product lines.

Well-known animal rights advocate Stella McCartney has always made a statement with her designer clothing brand, vowing to never use leather, skin, fur or feathers in any products, making it known to the world of fashion and animal welfare, that she will continue to make animal, and environmentally-friendly products a priority in premium fashion. 

This dedication to innovation led to the birth of Stella McCartney's ‘bio-acetate’ eyewear, and a vegan training shoe/sneaker in partnership with Adidas. This is nothing new from the ethically-conscious mogul but partnerships with other, more accessible brands, such as Adidas, are an important step in bringing the issues to the forefront of a wider audience. Online brand Asos announced its commitment to remove silk, cashmere and mohair from products featured on its website.

So, how to tell if fur is real or fake? Firstly, don’t be under the illusion that cheap, high street items cannot be real fur. Sadly, animals used for fur in some parts of the world are raised in such poor conditions that items such as coat trims, bobbles on winter hats, and even keyring pom-poms from affordable retailers have been revealed as real fur. Follow these tips to be sure that what you are purchasing is synthetic.

1. Examine the tips of the individual hairs; the tips will come to a point like a needle if the fur is real. The ends will be blunt, where the material has been cut, if it is faux fur.
2. The base material should clearly be either fabric, with an identifiable weave if you’re looking at fake fur, whereas real fur will be set in pelt.
3. Maybe not a method to try in the shop; burn a fibre slowly. Real fur will singe and smell like burning human hair. Synthetic fibres will melt. If you’re still not sure at this stage, it’s probably a good idea to leave the item on the shelf – better that than unknowingly buying real fur and contributing to the quick-and-dirty fur trade.

Autumn/Winter London Fashion Week was just the beginning for ethical fashion, with plant-based materials taking an increasingly larger place on the runway. Hopefully the collections of Spring/Summer 2019 will continue to prove the importance of animal welfare in fashion.