To not see the big deal with wearing fur

[Itsgonnabeacoldone]

If it's vintage then you aren't really supporting an industry or creating demand for new fur garments.

Some of the comments against Alexandra have been pretty vile. I have an old piano that has ivory, but it's second hand and surely it's better that it's used after being made than just thrown away?

[HuskyMcClusky]

If it's vintage then you aren't really supporting an industry or creating demand for new fur garments.

Yes, you are - indirectly. By wearing fur in public, you’re contributing to it being seen as fashionable & desirable, which will encourage less ethical consumers to purchase ‘new’ fur.

Your old piano is not the same, as it doesn’t leave the house.

[Soubriquet]

Yep. By wearing vintage fur, you are encouraging people to buy new. Not everyone will source old fur

The fur industry is very cruel too. They stick a probe up the bottom and in the mouth to send a shock through the system. They then skin the animal, though sometimes the animal isn't even dead yet.

This way the fur isn't damaged whilst they skin it.

Very cruel. Let's not forget the conditions they are kept in whilst they are waited to be harvested

[CoteDAzur]

“Your old piano is not the same, as it doesn’t leave the house.”

You’re clearly not a musical person A piano player doesn’t have to carry her piano on her back on the street to inspire others to start.

[juddyrockingcloggs]

And if someone sees that 'nice' fur coat and wants one for themselves, purchasing a new one thus supporting the fur trade?

Alex Burke's coat isn't second hand, it's clearly brand new. The hypocrisy of her decision is startling and if it hadn't involved an animal having its fur ripped off its body, it'd be laughable.

[poolCam]

Couldn't agree more OP.

I don't think I'm a fashion inspiration.

Should I burn the coat, scarves and hats I own? How does that make sense?

I don't think anyone would know my clothing is 'real'.

[peanutbutter310]

I generally don't think one deserves such abuse for a personal decision about what they wear. BUT... having appeared in an anti fur campaign I think she's opened herself up to this.

Plus I'm guessing that shiny new Canada Goose didn't come from a second hand stall on Brick Lane

[Pompadoo]

It's supporting the fashion and the trade, I think it's disgusting. Also she's a total hypocrite with the whole posing for peta "I'd rather be naked then wear fur" campaign, then wearing fur a couple of years later

[LapinR0se]

Oh I love a bit of fur in the winter. So soft and warm. Mind you I live in Switzerland and it really is cold enough to need it here.

[Picklesandpies]

Are you fur real?

I agree with pp. By wearing it, you are normalising the use of it.

[ladymariner]

Yeah lapin the animal it was torn from needed it too, but never mind about that!

[HuskyMcClusky]

Oh I love a bit of fur in the winter. So soft and warm.

Yes, because there’s no other ‘soft and warm’ materials to wear.

[LunasSpectreSpecs]

I can see both sides. Yes I appreciate that seeing people like Alexandra Burke who are in the public eye and popular could make wearing fur trimmed items more popular. It wasn't a full fur coat she had on, it was a bit of trim on a hood.

On the other hand, I help in a charity shop and we get a lot of vintage fur coats handed in. 1950s/60s style, brown, long coats. The sort your granny had and which couldn't be considered fashionable by anyone. We don't sell them, they go for recycling. The animals which were used to make the vintage coats are dead and gone, not selling the coat isn't going to bring them back.

But I wouldn't feel comfortable going out and buying a new fur coat either.

[LapinR0se]

Well I wear leather shoes and bags. I assume those animals did not die of natural causes while being sung a lullaby.
Also I drink milk and eat meat, both of which can mean animal suffering on an industrial scale. Same with wool.
Assume all the people wailing on this thread are vegans who don’t wear wool or leather?

[Soubriquet]

Leather is a by product of the meat industry and is now way comparable to fur.

With fur the animal is just disposed of. Least the cow is eaten and not wasted

[SoupDragon]

She apologised and said she wouldn't wear it again.

As an aside, there was a "watchdog" type programme that had a segment on how many coats labelled as coming with fake fur trims actually use real fur.

[pasturesgreen]

It's just about the least politically correct opinion you can voice, but I agree with you OP.

I have some gorgeous furs I inherited from my gran, and I'm not confining them to the back of the wardrobe because some sanctimonious, holier-than-thou character says I shouldn't dare wear them in public.

[LapinR0se]

I have lots and lots of farmer friends. The skins of animals that are slaughtered for their meat are not usually used for leather.
So like I said unless you are a vegan who does not wear any wool or leather then you don’t have a leg to stand on.

[Rebeccaslicker]

Didn't Naomi Campbell do this too? Pose for PETA then turn round and front a furrier campaign? It's almost like they didn't give a shit about the animals and did the PETA campaign for publicity or something...

[Chrys2017]

On the other hand, I help in a charity shop and we get a lot of vintage fur coats handed in. 1950s/60s style, brown, long coats. The sort your granny had and which couldn't be considered fashionable by anyone. We don't sell them, they go for recycling. The animals which were used to make the vintage coats are dead and gone, not selling the coat isn't going to bring them back.

They should be given a respectful burial or cremation.

[palmfronds]

TBH, I don't see any difference between eating industrially farmed meat and battery eggs, or wearing down jackets or having down pillows, or wearing an angora jumper, and wearing fur.

Unless you only eat organic, free range meat I don't see how you can pick at people for wearing vintage fur! In both cases you're increasing demand for a cruel industry, but at least with a coat you'll get a lifetime's wear out of it whereas that cheap chicken you bought is one animal's miserable life over and used up in one meal.

The number of people in this country who are still happy to eat cheap meat from Lidl or Iceland or fried chicken shops is a disgrace.

[kmc1111]

I'm not sure why you're bringing vintage fur into it. Burke was wearing a brand new coat with fur trim, not great grandma's fur stole.

[craigglen]

This has made me pause for thought. I have a vintage fur jacket which belonged to my grandmother and I wear it very occasionally. Probably once a year at the most. I would never buy fur, but viewed this as wearing something which had been bought about 80 years ago (at a time when people wore fur for warmth as well as fashion) and already existed. I hadn't thought about the promoting the wearing of fur angle, although I'm far from a fashion icon!

I wear it so infrequently that I'll probably still wear it but it's made me think. I do love it as a fashion heirloom and the idea that it was worn by both my late grandmother and then my mum who died when I was young.

[Pompadoo]

Assume all the people wailing on this thread are vegans who don’t wear wool or leather?

I don't wear either, but no one is wailing on this thread I hate this trend on mn where if someone has a different opinion and expresses is they must be hysterical or wailing etc ffs.

[Chrys2017]

"The skins of animals that are slaughtered for their meat are not usually used for leather." Incorrect. In fact leather is the most profitable part of the cow, accounting for 10% of its value.
Of the leather from cows, the majority is taken from those who are slaughtered for their meat or from dairy cows no longer producing enough milk to remain profitable.

What one needs to beware of is "luxury" soft leathers, which may be made from calves or unborn calves, and leather from China that has been made from dogs and cats.

[DressedCrab]

I've inherited a mink coat. I've never worn it.

I probably would wear it if I wasn't worried about animal loonies shouting abuse as they did to my elderly aunt the last time she wore it.

I wouldn't buy new but don't see the problem with vintage. When I was a student they were practically uniform, bought from the Rag Market in Birmingham.