What to do with a Vintage 1970's fur coat. Cost 4k

[BeerBaby]

It's a 14-16. Gorgeous. Practically new. I'm an 18 and it's unlikely to ever fit. What do I do with it?

I never understand why people say they "can't bring themselves" to get rid of things they don't want. Honestly, what use is something that you are never going to wear or get any use out of. It truly baffles me.

My MIL gave me her mother's vintage furs (real and fake) to get rid of. I sold them to a specialist second hand clothes shop and got very little for the real ones. There just isn't the demand for them any more, although bizarrely I got quite a lot of money for the fake one. She gave the money to her local dog rescue.

I'd be amazed if it's worth much unless it's a chinchilla or sable. Vintage hipster fairs are rammed with stalls selling minks for 30 quid.

I read that leather is NOT a byproduct of the meat industry and actually a very valuable part of the whole thing.

I really can't see the difference between wearing leather/suede or fur.

I agree with Ety .

This might be helpful OP

galefurs.co.uk/home/3489292

They seem to purchase furs.

Where did you read that, Squash? If course it's impossible to say that every piece of leather isn't a byproduct of the meat industry but do you really think given the amount of beef eaten in the world that they throw the skin away (which has value as leather) and separately there are fields of cows bred for leather which aren't used for meat? If you can find some info to prove your point, I'd be prepared to be educated.

Squash - also you could read up on fur farms, whilst you're at it. See if you still agree with Ety so blithely after that.

I inherited a 1940s fur coat from my DGM and took it to the furrier @dailydance referred to, just off Oxford St. For obvious reasons it's very discreet and very secure - the place is freezing and it's stuffed with fur coats! He really knows his onions, was very helpful in giving a valuation. He didn't want to buy it himself but had suggestions of how to sell it on. It was an absolutely immaculate coat, very much of the period, very stylish.... and not worth much at all. The market is very small, people don't want to wear real fur out and about (however good the fake stuff is, you can totally tell when it's real). Sorry to say I doubt you'd get 4k for it today.

I could never wear it profit from anything relating to the fur industry, it's is horrifically barbaric. I'm surprised that the sensible and compassionate woman of MN would even consider it.

Send it to me! I will wear it! Also we need pics.

But seriously a pp has suggested having it altered to fit, if that's an option I would do that. I don't feel the same about vintage furs as I do about new ones.

Would love to see a picture of it.

no, send it to me!! Im determined to not freeze this winter

When i went to Poland recently, there was fur on sale everywhere.

I think Brits live in a bit of a bubble about animal welfare. The rest of the world doesnt give a shiny shit. Youre onto a lost cause

School - same, Im quite surprised at the number of people considering it/saying they'd wear it too. Was only a few years ago there was a similar thread and I think there was only about 4 people that said they'd consider or say they wear real fur.

Im sure some of the clothes I wear look awful but to me there really is nothing worse and tacky than seeing a woman in a real fur coat.

I wouldn't want to wear a coat whose first owner died in it.

Starheart he's a start for you...

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/27/ethicalfashion.leather

The thing is burning it or putting it to landfill to me is more disrespectful than selling it . The animal is long dead and you may as well be before from its death..
As an aside I have no issue as such with fur anymore with meat but it's the way it's killed or skinned alive I have issue with . Eat / wear animals but just do it humanely without fear and pain !!!

www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/leather-is-more-than-a-by-product-of-the-meat-industry/

More food for thought....

www.care2.com/causes/the-shocking-truth-about-leather-no-its-not-a-meat-byproduct.html

Lots of articles along these lines freely available.

In some ways it would be more ethical to wear a vintage fur than a new leather jacket. If you wear leather if any description you are in no way morally superior to those who wear fur.

I also inherited some furs from my husband's grandmother. One was snow leopard 🤦🏼‍♀️, some rabbit and mink I think.

Endangered animals - fine, totally accept unacceptable to be using them to make coats (!).

However - with say rabbit, what is the difference between that and my leather jacket? I wear leather btw, shoes, bags, belts. All leather for clothing surely is not a by product of the meat industry? I have never looked into this - perhaps I should. I also eat meat. Guess what I am saying at a v basic level is struggling to see difference between animals bred for fur as opposed to food?... do all those opposed to fur therefore not wear leather or eat meat? I guess lots who are eg vegan follow that. Genuine questions btw!

@Branleuse don't be ridiculous. The world doesn't give a shit about a lot of things. That doesn't mean we have to lower our own personal moral standards. It's not a race to the fucking bottom.

And @schoolgaterebel I agree, but better to sell and donate the money than leave it in a cupboard forever or bin it, surely.

Ah just saw post before mine...

@Squashit thanks for that Guardian article and the others. That's definitely something to think about that I honestly never had before. Even as a vegetarian, I've always been comfortable with rationalising leather (only cow, nothing more exotic or inedible) as a byproduct, but I think I've bought my last leather article. I rarely buy real leather anyway due to the cost, but it will be a conscious decision from now on.

The thing is that is would be more ethical to wear a vintage fur than buy a new fake one with attendant issues re pollution/petrochemicals.

The whole fur debate raises issues around our approach to animal welfare and what we blindly accept as the norm whilst being very judgemental about fur wearers.

If you wear angora, wool, cashmere, eat dairy, eat meat,wear leather, drink certain alcohol, use certain cosmetics, etc you are engaging with a lifestyle that has animal cruelty attached to it. If you do any of these things and bang on about the cruelty of fur you are, at best, a hypocrite.

As someone said wisely upthread, it's not a race to the bottom. We don't need all this cheap meat, cheap leather goods, badly farmed dairy produce etc and all the resulting chemicals from the manufacturing or produce process. I know people who don't go a day without meat and the only meal they'll consider without meat is breakfast. It's got ridiculous.