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.

@BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter I never really think about it. I eat meat and dairy, have leather items including a rather striking stingray skin handbag I received as a gift- and use medicines which may have been tested on animals (although I do check as many cosmetic products as possible aren't tested on animals) so in for a penny in for a pound.

I have my contradictions though. There are some things I will not touch- vintage big cat furs and even synthetic versions I am uncomfortable with - I adore all cats, although I jokingly tell mine I'll turn her into a hat if she's naughty- but I have raccoon and fox and I'm currently looking at buying a mink off a friend. I usually buy fur in November, I do my Christmas shopping at an event which is well attended by furriers- they do good business and come back year after year so there's clearly a market for it. The vintage items are often better style for me. More classic. In the same way that not all women can really wear hats or evening wear, not everyone can wear fur. I do get told I look good in it. A surprising amount of people love to stroke it!

I do feel torn over the antique ivory jewellery and a carving I will likely inherit off my mother though. They're very old and I've admired them since childhood and they have sentimental value, but I have long since lost any desire wear them because of the ivory trade. I know plenty of people who wear fur though. I love seeing some of the pieces that come out for balls. It's still quite normal in my circles- and on young women, at that.

There are causes I am passionate about, this simply isn't one of them.

@Ilovegreentomatoes

If you wear real fur your a cunt.End of.

Presumably you are a vegetarian who never wears leather or farmed fish?

I think the overall issue with fur is the fact they’re killed purely for their coat. It’s unnecessary vanity, nobody needs a fur coat or hat- we’re not cavemen. There’s also of course a whole other argument for people not needing meat either (and I don’t eat meat so I agree) but at least it’s filling up a stomach and offering a good protein and iron source. Fur is just pure vanity, you don’t need it to survive and you’re butchering usually quite beautiful animals just for a piece of clothing.

Leather tends to be a byproduct of meat so not the same as fur.

If feral mink in this country were to be culled (they're an invasive species), I see nothing wrong with making use of them

I realise I'm arguing against my own vintage choices here, but unfortunately feral mink aren't much use to the fur trade. The pelts just aren't of sufficient quality when they've lived in the wild - though no doubt the mink are happy enough with them - so farming's really the only option

It's not quite true that only the fur's used though, since the fat is rendered for oil and the rest goes for organic fertiliser. Granted that's not much consolition to those who disagree with it completely, but it's got to be better than simply discarding them

@Simplyunacceptable

I think the overall issue with fur is the fact they’re killed purely for their coat. It’s unnecessary vanity, nobody needs a fur coat or hat- we’re not cavemen. There’s also of course a whole other argument for people not needing meat either (and I don’t eat meat so I agree) but at least it’s filling up a stomach and offering a good protein and iron source. Fur is just pure vanity, you don’t need it to survive and you’re butchering usually quite beautiful animals just for a piece of clothing.

Leather tends to be a byproduct of meat so not the same as fur.

Depending on where you live, you may well need fur to survive in the winter months, although granted that won't apply to most people.

Leather is also not always a by-product of the meat industry. Sometimes it's the other way around, sometimes the meat is no use or the skin is no use. There's no neat correlation between meat and leather.

MrsToothyBitch for every person that tells you you look good in fur there will be a whole lot more that think you look like a fool.

I thought similar to Lockheart - I've read people from Scandinavia saying that nothing else is as warm.

If (and that's a huge if) it's farmed humanely I don't see an issue - I believe it's more the fur farms in places like China that are the issue? Perhaps if there was a certification system (like the RSCPA scheme for meat)?

If anyone would like a real insight into the fur trade (also leather, down feathers, meat etc)... watch a documentary called "Earthlings", narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.

A few have asked... yes, ripping the entire coat of fur off live animals is a regular, cruel and disgusting practice. The animals are left alive for two reasons: killing the animal in a "humane" way by stunning them costs time and money. Killing them in a "less humane" way by slicing their throat costs time and money (cheaper than stunning) and would damage the pristine piece of fur by leaving a gaping hole in it and blood all over the coat.

Leather.. just as disgusting. No, it is not always a byproduct of the meat industry. Cows are tortured in Asia by deliberately having their tails broken and twisted to inflict pain in order to keep them walking to their final destination. Exhausted and in agony, they are then used for suede products.. what a life! 😔

Anyone who wears fur is a cunt.
Leather is no better.

What gives us the right to use animals as we see fit?

You’re asking on the wrong forum OP. The vast majority of fur is sold to China and Russia.

Fur is an important clothing resource in countries with severe winters. I don't object on principal, assuming ethically produced and practical rather than fashionable.

Second had fur is even better. It's a shame furs were destroyed when they became unacceptable here. It would have been better to send them to countries where the climate demands them.

Fur is far better than synthetics which pollute the waterways with micro plastics.

Most of it goes to China, I mean seriously hardly surprising since we know what they do to dogs.

@Rollmopsrule- Fair. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though and I could say the same for plenty of style choices voiced on mn. Do you use pharmaceuticals or toiletries tested on animals though? Wear or own leather goods? Have feather bedding? Are you vegan? Because I also think your stance looks ugly on people who do those things but dare to judge me.

I don't think most people look close enough to notice I'm in real tbh. I wear scarves, snoods, collars and trimmed wraps mostly so quite small items. It's amusing when people snuggle them, find out they're real and drop them. Had one audible tutt when I was out once in my first fur coat I have since passed on, so I simply asked the tutter what gave them the authority to judge my clothing choices when they'd presumably paid for their so called hair cut.

It's a shame furs were destroyed when they became unacceptable here. It would have been better to send them to countries where the climate demands them

I totally agree - such a waste, and since their original owners were already dead it's hard to see any justification for destroying the items without at least finding out if they could be of any use

@SchrodingersImmigrant

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!

I name everyone of my chickens and eventually when they are no longer laying eggs they become my dinner. I cull every year

I come from a vegan/vegetarian family and don’t use leather or fur, so maybe not who the question is aimed at. However, I would presume people still wear fur for the same reason they still eat meat. They like it and they have weighed up the suffering of the animals against their enjoyment and decided the animals’ suffering is acceptable.

I don’t mean that in a snide way, it’s just I think it’s basically the only real answer to why people still wear fur - they want to.

I have 2 vintage furs. One was my great grandmothers, and was probably her pride and joy.

I do wear them but only on very special occasions.

I would never buy new fur. There's no need for that. As you say, it's really cruel.

I have never bought, worn or owned any fur and it’s highly unlikely I ever will. Not my thing at all. I do, however, eat meat and wear leather so I’m not going to start preaching at others who choose to use different animal products to the ones I choose to use.

I have many faults, but I hope sanctimonious hypocrisy isn’t one of them.

There is nothing warmer so if you live in a v cold climate they are almost a necessity
My mother has an inherited fur coat, I wouldn't buy one but when I tried it on , it is so so warm

I don’t agree with the keeping or killing of animals purely for their coat, but I do think the furs of animals killed for meat should be used and not just discarded.
Ultimately, fur is far better for the environment and I’d be happier wearing by product fur than synthetic fabric, I wouldn’t buy fur from animals farmed purely for that purpose though, like mink, I do think that is quite morally reprehensible

@Kanaloa

I come from a vegan/vegetarian family and don’t use leather or fur, so maybe not who the question is aimed at. However, I would presume people still wear fur for the same reason they still eat meat. They like it and they have weighed up the suffering of the animals against their enjoyment and decided the animals’ suffering is acceptable.

I don’t mean that in a snide way, it’s just I think it’s basically the only real answer to why people still wear fur - they want to.

What about the people who need ot?

It's a huge business in Denmark, but generally it's a massive export industry for the EU. I don't know why people are shocked, it's been going on for many years.

Had one audible tutt when I was out once in my first fur coat I have since passed on, so I simply asked the tutter what gave them the authority to judge my clothing choices when they'd presumably paid for their so called hair cut.

I don’t think they needed further confirmation of what sort of person you are, to be honest.

2 winters in Northern Canada did it for me. The stores have lockers to put them in, and there's cold storage for the summer months. Obviously I'm now in the UK . My silver fox jacket keeps going on.
It's lightweight, it's warm and, importantly, I like it.

@Leaannb that is nice. We were told as kids to nkt name the animals bread for food. The ones we kept we could. Maybe it's different for adults. Or perosn by person as well.

I love my Silver Fox Coat. Last time I wore it was in the UK aboit 5 years ago. I had it made when we lived in Barrows. It made a nice summer jacket