New Biodegradable Faux Fur Brands
The future of faux fur lies in new eco-friendly textiles. There are now brands that are made from biodegradable alternatives to conventional faux fur coats. Also join the campaign to ban the sale of real fur in England.
Any coat has synthetic lining, so would be laundered in a microfiber filter, to stop microplastics leaching from machines into the sea. But ‘fur coats’ are dry-cleaned, so use an eco-friendly dry cleaner, that uses steam over PERC chemicals.
- Bio-fluff is an eco-friendly alternative to fur that has just received over $2 million in seed funding to help produce it for the mass market. One designer already using it is Stella McCartney, who has never used fur in her designs.
- EcoPel is a luxury faux fur made from recycled polyester, which results in 30% less energy production, and 63% less greenhouse gas emissions. The Ministry of Defence has been offered this for free, to replace bearskins at Buckingham Palace, but so far has not taken up the offer, despite it being identical in water run-off and quality.
- Gacha is a sustainable fur that is commercially compostable in 180 days (this means that brands can take back end-of-life garments to industrially compost in proper facilities.
Faux Fur Saves Wild Cats in Africa
Panthera (an international animal welfare charity that helps to remove big cats caught in snares) has been instrumental in protecting leopards from being killed, for traditional dress in South Africa.
10 years ago, 800 of the country’s 5000 leopards were being killed for coats used in ceremonial regalia, although the tribes revere this beautiful species.
So they worked with graphic designers to replicate the costumes with Heritage Furs, which the communities adore, and also protect the spotted big cats.
