Models present creations for Givenchy during the women’s 2018/2019 fall/winter collection fashion show on March 4, 2018, in Paris. (Photo credit: ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images)
A recent spate of luxury brands have announced that they will no longer use real fur in their collections, which has once again brought the hot-button issue to the forefront of fashion and sustainability. Both Versace and Furla have committed to abandoning fur moving forward and as such have joined a growing list of designer brands who no longer use fur in their products such as Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors and Gucci, as well as retailers like Net-a-Porter and Selfridges.
When explaining their decision to forgo the material, most of these brands cite a combination of the following three main reasons: technological advances in fabrications that allow them to create ethical, luxe-fur alternatives, recognizing an awareness from consumers and their attitudes towards cruel fur practices, and taking part in a wider sustainability plan for the whole company. Technological Advances In Fabrications
While many fashion brands in the past have used synthetic fur in their products for many years, large luxury companies have been slower to experiment with and evolve their use of materials that can emulate the traditionally “luxe” properties of real animal fur. Michael Kors Holdings Limited only last year announced their decision to stop working with real fur, and that all fur currently in p...