Fur Free
Faux Fur
Faux fur today is wonderfully soft, luxurious and warm. Beautiful color combinations and style that rivals real fur without all the ugly baggage that comes with real fur. How can you beat that, looking good and feeling good without
the guilt. When I was little my grandmother had a fur coat, a real fur coat. I remember snuggling up against it and how warm and soft it felt. I know she really loved that coat. It was her only luxury and I'm sure it made her feel luxurious and glamorous, far removed from her day to day life. I never did know how she managed to afford it. I realize for her it was so much more than a coat, it was that feeling. While she was wearing it she felt special and I think that is the feeling many women get when they wear fur but with all the improvements that have been made in faux fur we don't have to wear the real thing.
The high quality faux fur being used in today's fashions and home interiors are usually made with mod-acrylic fibers. These fibers such as Tissavel and Kanecaron are soft, resilient, flame resistant, drapable and warm, creating the look and feel of real fur. Luxurious looking fur can be found in a variety of styles and prices. It is possible to find great looking coats, vests, wraps, etc. at affordable prices that have been factory made or choose a beautiful custom design. Manufacturers choose not only the type of mod-acrylic but also whether the backing is woven or knitted and what type of lining material is used.
Mod-acrylic Fibers These are synthetic fibers which when made are not very environmentally friendly. They are made with non-renewable resources, frequently produce toxic waste and aren't biodegradable to name just a few of the possible problems. But not all synthetic fibers are created the same. Some are made with more care for the environment than others. Tissavel is one of those fibers popularly used. Tissavel has been tested by Oeko-Tex an organization concerned with the safety of textiles both for the consumer, the people involved in the manufacturing and for the environment. According to the
Oeko-tex Standard 100,
Tissavel was awarded a "Confidence in Textiles" license. It conforms to the standards described in the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 protocol and it has been tested by an independant organization and awarded a license to display the certification label. Oeko-Tex looks at all stages of manufacture to determine environmental impact but their highest priority is the effect the production of the fiber or the fiber itself can have on people. I was not able to find any such testing or rating of any other mod-acrylics. But that may change with time. Ask the manufacturer if the mod-acrylics used in their faux fur have been tested for harmful substances. Woven or knitted backing? Each manufacturer has their preference. Woven is preferred by fake fur designers like Charly Calder and Fabulous Furs. It can be a little more costly due to a more involved process but less yarn is used and some think less shedding occurs. Yes, faux furs do shed but that diminishes with time. Knitted fabrics are faster and easier to create. The fibers stretch which can cause distortion which is not desirable. But at least one company Silk and Sable uses the knitting process to their advantage in a process which allows the individual fibers to stand upright resembling the real fur. Lining material. The choice of lining has an impact on the care of these fabrics. High end faux fur usually has satin lining and requires dry cleaning or spot cleaning with mild soap and water. Those fabrics lined with polyester or a mod-acrylic can usually be washed. It is important to follow the manufacturers instructions for caring for your fur. Recommendations can vary greatly and if not followed might ruin your fur completely.
Looking at these furs, I can see why so many designers and celebrities would find the material so appealing. Fashion Designer Marc Bouwer has been using fake fur and creating some beautiful fashions being worn by quite a few celebrities. Check out this interesting interview and see what he has to say about fur.. Make sure when buying anything that you think is fake fur to see if there is a label stating what the fur has been made of. Some furs thought to be fake have turned out to be animal fur, sometimes even that of dogs and cats. Buy high quality whenever possible and know what you are buying. Faux fur gives us the the chance to enjoy the beauty of animal fur without the harm to animals that real fur causes. While it is not the best environmental choice, we can choose varieties that use mod-acrylics that are more thoughtfully created. It is sometimes difficult to find products that are animal, people and environmentally friendly. Faux fur is one example. Know what you are buying so you can make the best choice.
To learn more about the fur industry check out the:Humane Society
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