Fur.

[BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter]

"Inspired" by the culling of mink on fur farm in Denmark - AIBU to wonder why on earth, in this day and age, people are still purchasing fur?

There are enough videos and photos from fur farms that show how fur is acquired. I will not go into this as it is very, very disturbing.

If you are a fur wearer, can I ask why you choose to wear it, considering the torture the animal has no doubt endured to provide the fur?

For clarity I am not a PETA member/animal rights activist looking for an argument (although I do have strong views on animal cruelty, like the majority of people do).

I am genuinely interested in other people's views on this.

Cruelty in farming should be opposed, clearly. But warmth is a legitimate need, and I don't feel any revulsion about fur-wearing in itself (unless the animals in question had been endangered, obviously).

I do have a massive problem with the kind of activists who break into fur farms and release the animals- it causes massive damage. In my county, released mink have caused massive damage to ground-nesting bird populations, many of which were already endangered.

No matter what the cost of it, fur is trashy and cheap. Fashion disaster for oligarchs and minor royals....

Speaking as a vain, selfish, cunt who grew up in a town where the temperature regularly reaches - 40°C (-50 with wind)... fur is really warm. Synthetic alternatives are catching up but a quality beaver/mink/wolf/coyote keeps you warmer 10 times out of 10. Fur for fashion isn't cool, but remember fur is f*cking warm.

I genuinely love the feel and look of fur, but then I'm sure it's original owner felt that way too - so I buy vintage, and then only if its source can be proved

I totally get the point that it can still be seen as "encouraging" the fur trade, but an already dead animal can't be brought back to life, and at least this way I'm not directly responsible for it being killed

I couldn’t wear anything from an animal that’s been kept in horrific conditions, beaten around the head making it possibly unconscious or possibly not and then potentially been skinned alive.

I don’t think I could even look at myself in the mirror wearing it

I wouldn't wear new fur. Vintage fur I would but don't own any. But I can see the argument that why is leather OK but fur isn't.

Aren’t these mink also used for the mink false lashes you can buy widely in many countries, including in the UK

I genuinely love the feel and look of fur, but then I'm sure it's original owner felt that way too - so I buy vintage, and then only if its source can be proved

Sorry I don’t understand this argument. Yes you’re not giving money directly to the industry, but by wearing real fur you’re still supporting it.

Most mink are farmed for making eyelashes! It’s cruel, barbaric and they are kept in inhumane conditions. Should be banned completely

And yes I eat meat, but at the very least will buy from ethically raised local farms

Sometimes, real fur is cheaper than synthetic fur. Not sure that applies to mink

Not at current prices it doesn't - unless it's a Chinese item, and they're a no-no for multiple obvious reasons

I think the way the animals are kept is really cruel and then the way of removing the fur is barbaric.

I would never ever wear fur. Before anyone asks I am vegetarian and have been for 40 years. I don't wear leather either.

I am virtually vegan as I don't have cow's milk (use oat milk) and eat vegan yoghurt. I rarely eat cheese. I do eat eggs but I only buy them from local people who have the chickens running round their gardens

As the old slogan said "beautiful animals and ugly people wear fur"

As someone who has actually been to a Danish fur farm:

No it doesn't get so cold in Denmark you have to wear fur
The fur is exported anyway for the luxury goods market - it's not Danes wearing it
Yes, the conditions are appalling
It is absolutely nothing like a dairy farm.

I went regularly as a child and have never forgotten it. The best thing is that the minks are culled and industry ends forever.

I think the mink were used for eyelashes. But I'm genuinely surprised that anyone still thinks they look good in fur when I'd estimate 95% of the population think they actually look like cunts.

I also think all those people saying it's no worse than eating meat or wearing leather should think about not eating meat or wearing leather rather than using that argument as an excuse for people to wear fur. And unless you're in a Sami tribe there's no way you need fur in order to stay warm either.

Anyone who thinks fur is ok I assume you don't mind donating your cats and dogs to be skinned alive as it's just an animal and doesn't matter?

And yes I'm vegan and no I don't buy fast fashion as far as I can help it, I buy mostly charity shop clothes.

I do own a small amount of real fur items. I also do not see how you can have issue with fur if you eat meat - it makes you a hypocrite. I would be more than willing to buy fake fur if it looked any good - it doesn't, it looks REALLY shit.

Fur is easy to condemn because it is, for the most part in western society, a luxury item the majority of us will never own.

It's unecessary in most of our climates, but people wear it because they like it.

Just like eating meat isn't necessary in many places nowadays, but people eat it because they like it.

I say this as a meat-eater, by the way.

Fur is no worse than meat, leather, dairy, the impact of our disposable plastic litter on the oceans, or the impact of our pollution on air quality.

It's just easier to pick on because it doesn't affect most of us personally.

No need for the "sorry", LioneIRichTea; I respect your view even though I don't share it

As said in my second paragraph I realise wearing vintage can be said to be encouraging/supporting the trade, but in a world full of conflicting choices it's enough for me personally that at least I haven't been directly responsible for the creature being killed

Using animal skins as a byproduct of other industries eg food is ok on my book whereas I'm not comfortable with mink farming as the mink aren't eaten. A friend of mines father farms rabbits, they are eaten, the fur is exported for clothing mostly to china apparently.

@Hopdathelf well said

I have a vintage fur coat. I have never worn it. It came from a time when it was acceptable to farm animals for fur. I'm not comfortable with it now BUT we should make use of all waste from the meat industry. As has already been pointed out, many synthetic materials are plastic based and shed in our washing machines. Forget plastic straws, this is the biggest pollution risk to marine life.

Ps I don't wear it, I gave the coat I inherited to charity for auction as apparently it was valuable so some good came of it. I don't have an issue with indigenous tribes etc wearing it, ditto sealskin boots etc. I'll stick to plastic (aka polar fleece which ironically is probably more damaging to the planet)

@Hopdathelf

BadlyDrawn what if your post were to read

But as someone who wears fur cheap clothes, do you not realise what the animal human being toiling in a sweatshop for pennies goes through or do you decide to ignore it?

Hypocritical much? Or do you only wear the finest garments handmade in Europe?

That’s what I was thinking. I don’t wear fur, but don’t have any massive objections to it above and beyond other industries/practices.

There's no difference between fur and other use of animal products.

You either accept all animals are a resource, no different from trees or oil, and are therefore to be used as such.

Or

You see all animals as idividual sentient beings who deserve to live their lives free.

Any middle ground or "justifications" as to why some practices are bad and some are acceptable or some animals are off limits is just pure hypocrisy.

I had a business selling at big shows before this pandemic I sell canine gifts with a twist the twist being cashmere walking accessories for humans. A large part of my sales 2000 per season were pompom hats with interchangeable pom-poms. Last year with the anti fur brigade being more vocal I offered faux and yarn as well as fur - guess what I sold maybe 20 yarn/faux and the rest 1980 ish fur people may say they don’t like the idea of fur but when presented with a choice in my experience it’s fur all the way.

[quote BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter]@DreadingSeason2020sFinale "If it was fur that is a byproduct of food then I wouldn't have an issue. I eat meat. Animals die for me to eat. I just don't need them to die only for my fashion."

I very much agree with you on this. Leather and wool are byproducts and the animal is killed for meat. However an animal that is skinned alive then its writhing body discarded onto a pile...that's what I have an issue with.[/quote]
As an aside, leather is not always a by-product of the meat industry. Some cows raised for leather are different to cows raised for meat. Ostrich leather is the most valuable part of the animal and the meat is a by-product.

Not a fan of farming animals for 1 thing only, but otherwise I like to see all parts used.

There are different attitudes to animals in different countries so that will also show on attitude to fur. Most English are horrified when I mantion eating rabbits. "But they are pets!" they cry. Not if you don't name them and bread them for eating.

If I can eat it, I can wear it.

Real fur and skins do keep you warmer than anything else ime. And I've waited for buses in -15c often before moving to UK, bless my sheep skin shoes and leather boots!