Plastic is not fashionable: consumers support natural fur, leather and wool

Plastic is not fashionable: consumers support natural fur, leather and wool
F International Fur Association IFF May 19

You may have just read a press conference report entitled “environmental protection fur”, and you are sighing at the “progress of the times”. But can we take five minutes to calm down and take a look at this “issue”
Washington, D.C. on April 22, 2021, the natural fiber alliance released a set of latest public opinion survey data, showing that people generally support the use of natural fibers, including natural fur. Despite decades of “anti fur” campaign by a small number of activists, fur still has strong public support, which can no longer be ignored. The new poll supports Gallup’s long-standing conclusion that more than half of respondents consider fur “morally acceptable.”.
In the results of this public opinion survey:
61% of consumers agree or strongly agree that “brands and retailers can use animal based materials responsibly, such as leather, wool, fur and silk.”.
62% of the public would consider purchasing fur certified humane and sustainable, while only 16% would not.
60% thought that brands and designers should be allowed to use natural fur, while only 12% didn’t.
From China’s point of view, China is the world’s largest fur processing place, as well as the world’s largest fur animal breeding place and the largest fur consumption place. The fur industry is a labor-intensive industry, which creates a lot of employment opportunities and an important industry for farmers to become rich and earn income. Moreover, China is a materialistic society, with its own values and social culture, and Chinese people have a rational concept of sustainable development in line with the reality and objective basis.

In recent years, some brands have announced to stop using natural fur and switch to artificial fur. For a time, “artificial fur” has become the pronoun of “environmental protection”, and also a kind of propaganda and marketing method of some brands. However, this practice is contrary to the public’s attitude towards natural fur, and also goes against the social trend of sustainable development.
Synthetic textiles based on plastics, such as artificial fur, are an important cause of marine pollution. The compound cannot be naturally degraded and will release plastic particles, polluting water and the ocean. If current production and waste management trends continue, it is estimated that by 2050, about 12 billion tons of plastic waste will be buried or spread throughout the natural environment.

It’s not just the oceans that are facing the impact of pollution from the industry. Another UN study in 2019 concluded: “fashion accounts for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.” Therefore, this practice of advocating “plastic fashion” as green fashion is undoubtedly “pointing the deer to the horse”. However, the natural fabrics that are really beneficial to the environment are misled by the media and misunderstood by the public under the commercial marketing.

From the ethical point of view, the use of animals by human beings is in line with the objective facts. There is no essential difference between leather, fur, wool and human edible animals. Laofoye Lagerfeld once said that all accusations have to face a basic origin: “anti fur is not a problem for me as long as people still eat meat and use leather.”
What is the attitude of international brands towards fur? Both LVMH and kering have endorsed a project called “Furmark” developed by the international fur Society (IFF). This project will provide guarantee for animal protection and sustainable development certification in Europe, the United States, Canada, Russia and Namibia, which will make the sustainable and green standards of fur industry truly reliable.

Michelle Burke, CEO of Louis Vuitton, told Italian newspaper IL sole 24 ore last fall that Louis Vuitton did not give up its plan to use fur. He cited the ethical certification of its farm, the practicability of materials, and the craftsmanship spirit of the leather industry for hundreds of years to explain the sustainability of fur and its attitude.

LV Louis Vuitton 2021 series of natural fur

Natural fur of Fendi 2021 series
“Plastics are not fashionable in 2021, and responsible designers and retailers should support the public’s desire for sustainability by using more sustainable natural textiles,” said Mike Brown, director of sustainable development and communication at the natural fiber alliance. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with Saks, Macy’s and other retailers and brands who want to know the truth. ”