Your fur style - please read thread guidelines in post #1 before posting

[j´adore dior]

A truly European sector
Fur farming started at the end of the 19th century in America and spread to Europe at the beginning of 20th century. The main farmed species are mink and fox. Nutria, chinchilla, fitch, sable and fin racoon are bred on a smaller scale.
Today, in many countries, it is an important branch of animal husbandry. 85% of world pelt production originates from farmed species, mostly in Europe. European countries account for 67% of global mink production and 70% of fox production. Fur farms are found in rural areas in almost all European countries.
Housing
The housing systems for farmed fur bearing animals today were developed through independent scientific research and practical experience to respond to the needs of

the animals. Mink and fox are generally housed in open sided sheds which provide normal temperature and light conditions while protecting the animals from such effects as direct sunlight and rain. Though it is essential for the animals to live outdoors under normal climatic conditions. Each mature animal has its own pen, which always offers sufficient space for normal behaviour and a sleeping area filled with straw.
Natural cycle
Breeding fur animals is practised in harmony with the animals' natural life cycle. No hormones or other biological techniques are used to improve breeding results. Once a year mothers raise a litter that is born in the Spring. The cubs stay with their mother until they reach maturity.

A balanced diet for healthy animals
Both mink and fox are carnivores. Part of their daily feed is made from fish and poultry by-products, which are unsuitable for human consumption. These primary ingredients are mixed on a fresh day-to-day basis with other ingredients such as cereals, fats, vitamins and minerals. The animals are fed one or several times each day. A balanced diet ensures healthy animals, good breeding and excellent physical development.
Proper health and veterinary care
The state of health among farmed fur bearing animals is generally excellent. Signs of good health include clear bright eyes, good posture, shiny coat, high mating success and inquisitive behaviour. Farmers inspect their animals daily so that veterinary help can be called upon promptly if needed. As a precaution young animals are vaccinated to protect them from botulism, distemper and enteritis.

 

[j´adore dior]

China Strengthens Regulations for Humane Treatment of Animals Farmed for Fur

Revised 10/31/06.

In June 2005, the Chinese State Forestry Administration approved a regulation governing the management of breeding, keeping and housing animals farmed for fur.

The purpose of the new regulation is to standardize the requirements for breeding fur farmed animals, covering such areas as environmental protection and animal welfare. The regulation strengthens existing Chinese laws and regulations including the Peopleís Republic of China Law for Wildlife Protection and the Peopleís Republic of China Regulation for the Implementation of Terrestrial Wildlife Protection.

The new regulation set standards for technical management, farm construction, feed management, sanitation, health and disease prevention, fur processing, protection of the environment and animal welfare.

Guidelines set for farm operational areas include creating supporting facilities that take into consideration the animalsí species-specific needs and biological characteristics, as well as requirements relating to animal husbandry, skinning and pelt processing.

The regulation stresses that good animal husbandry involves creating favorable environments for the animals so that they may grow, breed and produce fur in accordance with their different nutritional needs during their natural life cycles. For example, farms are instructed to provide feed that is freshly formulated, nutritious, balanced and hygienic and to establish orderly and regular feeding methods. Farmers are also advised to keep transportation of animals to a minimum and to ensure that transportation crates satisfy the basic living conditions of the animals.

Specific guidelines are outlined for sanitation and the prevention of disease including inoculations against distemper, viral enteritis and encephalitis. Veterinary clinics must be adequate to meet the requirements of the farmís animal population.

Standards also cover safe, humane and environmentally friendly slaughter and pelt processing. The regulation forbids slaughter of any animals by non-approved methods.

The new regulation will be phased in over a two-year timeframe to enable fur farms to bring management practices relating to the many aspects of breeding, keeping and housing animals farmed for fur in line with enhanced standards.

From: www.iftf.com
http://www.efbanet.com/index.htm

 

[j´adore dior]

Also from iftf.com:

Fast Facts

Fur is a natural product, based on the sustainable use of renewable resources.


Fur farming

• Is well regulated under international, national or regional laws and guidelines.
• Is an established, natural part of the agricultural sector in many countries.
• Provides high standards of care for animal health and animal welfare.
• Is a valuable link in the food and recycling chain.
• Provides an efficient use of 647,000 tonnes of animal by-products each year from the fishing and meat industries in the EU alone.
• Provides manure for organic fertiliser.
• Mink provides fat for hypoallergenic soaps and hair products.

Wild fur

• Represents about 15% of the world's trade in fur.
• National and international regulations ensure that only nature's surplus enters the fur trade each year.
• No endangered species are used.
• Trapping is highly regulated.
• An international Agreement is in place between the EU and the main wild fur producing countries to ensure that only the most humane trapping systems are used.

Economics

• Over 1 million people are employed full-time in the fur trade worldwide.
• Fur sales worldwide totalled some US$ 11.7 billion in 2003/04.
• Nearly 117,000 enterprises exist worldwide ñ retailers, dressers, brokers, etc.
• In Denmark, fur farming was worth Euro 514 million in 2002, the countryís third largest export after bacon and cheese.
• In Finland, the annual fur production value is Euro 250 million, greater than that of beef, with over 50% of fur farmers relying on fur farming as their sole source of income.
• In Canada, the fur trade contributes Can$ 800 million to the Canadian economy, employing over 75,000 Canadians in total.
• In USA, the value of the fur industry at retail level was US$ 1.8 billion in 2003/4. There are more than 100 manufacturers of fur garments and nearly 1,400 retail outlets of finished fur garments.
• Hong Kong is the worldís largest importer of farmed fur skins and remains the leading exporter of fur garments to the value of more than US$ 320 million annually.
• In Russia, the value of the fur trade is over US$ 2.5 billion, contributing around 0.6% ñ 0.8% of the turnover of all consumer goods.
• In the UK, fur brokers are responsible for buying the majority of the worldís fur traded at raw or wholesale level, with a turnover of some US$ 750 million per annum.

Animal welfare and conservation

• Over the last 20 years, the IFTF alone has contributed more than US$ 5 million in support of a wide range of animal welfare and conservation projects.
• The European fur sector and national governments spent over Euro 1.6 million in 1999 on fur farming research.
• European fur farmers helped to establish the Fur Animal Welfare Research Committee (FAWRC) in 1999, which reports to the Council of Europeís Standing Committee on farm animal welfare.
• The European Fur Breeders Association (EFBA) has its own Code of Practice, which incorporates the Council of Europe recommendations, with its own further ìbest practiceî.
• North American fur breeders have Codes of Practice that include recommended methods of care from birth to death of mink and foxes.
• The IFTF is a voting member of the World Conservation Union and supports the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Public opinion

• In the USA, 86% of Americans support an individualís freedom to choose whether to wear fur. (1996)
• 69% of Finnish people have a positive attitude to fur farming. (1998)
• In the UK, 62% of people consider that it is environmentally sound to use natural fibres such as wool, silk, fur and leather. (2000)
• 71% of Dutch people agree with the statement, ìit makes in principle no difference for what reason you keep animals as long as you take care of their welfareî. (2000)
• 67% of Dutch people believe individuals should have a free choice to wear fur. (2000)
• 67% of Scottish people strongly agree with the statement ìin principle, I find it acceptable that animals are kept on farms for any purpose, provided there is good animal welfare.î (2001)
• 68% of Canadians know that the fur trade helps to support the livelihoods and cultures of people living in close harmony with the land. (2001)
• In Norway, two thirds of people support fur farming (Sentio Norsk statistikk/Nationen). (2003)

 

[DriversHigh]

J' adore, I guess what most people on the previous page are trying to say is that these facts and figures don't mean much simply because if fur farmers did in fact care so much about the wellbeing of the animals they slaughter, they wouldn't be killing them at all. You simply can't have both.

 

[tangerine]

*Please Read Carefully*

Please note that the purpose of this thread is simply to state whether or not you wear, or would wear, fur.

It is fine to make a statement (singular) supporting your position.

Going forward, protracted debates and attempted monopolization of the thread to the end of attempting to sway others' opinions will be regarded as politicizing the topic and such posts will be deleted at moderator discretion.

We are going to leave the preceding exchange for now because we do find it interesting and relevant, but if anyone objects to any of it, both parties' posts will be removed as they are technically going beyond the scope of the thread.

This is a difficult topic to navigate because it is an emotional one for many people. We ask your cooperation and understanding in respecting others' opinions and choices, even if you do not agree with them.

 

[kimair]

Max Azria is the latest designer to end the sale of fur for his multitude of brands. The Humane Society today announced that BCBG Max Azria Group will adopt a fur-free philosophy starting with the Spring 2009 collection. The fashion conglomerate, which now joins the likes of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger in their fur-free endeavors, has pledged to cease the sale of fur by this fall by its portfolio of 15 brands, including BCBG Max Azria, Max Azria, and Hervé Léger by Max Azria. "BCBG Max Azria Group is demonstrating its leadership in the fashion industry with this compassionate move to protect furbearing animals," said Kristin Leppert, director of The HSUS fur-free campaign. "They are not only distinguishing themselves as an ethical company, but they are doing their part to encourage consumers to make ethical fashion choices." The group operates a retail and wholesale network that includes more than 13,500 points of sale throughout the world. More than 75 companies now support the causes championed by the HSUS. A full list is available at www.humanesociety.org/furfreeshopping.

fashionweekdaily

 

[MariaT89]

I live in Canada and it gets pretty cold up here. I own lots of cashmere and wool, goose down filled parkas, several fur items, and dont get me started on leather. I dont think its that bad though.. synthetic materials dont work well in cold weather and if it wasnt for all those coats, scarves and all that stuff I would freeze..

 

[Ella-Picobella]

hm...I dont really know what I think about fur. I guess it is normal for the human being to wear fur (like thousands of years ago already). it starts getting bad if there are fur farms, were the animals are just brought up to be slaughtered and to use the fur. I guess I wouldnt buy fur, because I would feel bad about it, but if I would get it as a present a maybe would. A very weak statement I know, but I cant really decide

 

[fashion tyger]

This picture is insane.....

 

[Hanne]

fashion tyger please list the source of the picture, it's tFS policy.

 

[fashion tyger]

fashion tyger please list the source of the picture, it's tFS policy.

bwgreyscale discussion board.....it was so long ago,before I really kept track of where everything came from.....sorry

 

[PonyShow]

now im not a fur hippie or anything, but i saw this peta video one time and it still makes me want to vomit thinking about it. so i vote no. and besides, whats wrong with fake? its cheaper, too. *shrug*

 

[MariaT89]

I HATE fake fur its so tacky..

and even if you find good quality fake fur its going to cost you just as much as the real one...

 

[june gloom]

I think I'd rather look "tacky" than walk around knowing that I'm wearing a dead animal for fashion purposes. To be honest, I think fur can sometimes look good - I loved the use of it at Gucci's fall show. However, I wouldn't be able to walk around with the guilt of supporting animal cruelty for a fashion trend and I wouldn't want people looking at me to think that I was, either. I've seen some little fake fur coats at vintage shops that have looked just as good to me. And maybe that's tacky, but I prefer it.

As someone previous said, it is an unnecessary luxury.

 

[MariaT89]

I dont see fur as a fashion trend, trends come and go, but fur has been around for hundreds of years.. and I dont think fur is meant for fashion purposes only.... maybe you dont have extremely cold winters like I do.......

 

[MichelleYue]

Vintaged/thrifted fur - yes. Brand new real fur - no. Fake fur - yes, depending on how it looks.

 

[june gloom]

I dont see fur as a fashion trend, trends come and go, but fur has been around for hundreds of years.. and I dont think fur is meant for fashion purposes only.... maybe you dont have extremely cold winters like I do.......

I don't think fur is a necessity for winter. I live in a city where the wind chill gets below thirty, but I don't know anyone who wears fur. We all can manage not to. It's nearly June and our temperatures are still in the 40s. I survive with carefully thought out layers and a coat from H&M. Yes, fur has been around for a very long time, but if there are better, less harmful alternatives, then why does that matter?

 

[fashionista-ta]

I grew up in Michigan, turned down my aunt's offer to buy me a fur coat, and made it thru the winters just fine That said, Ann Landers wore a full-length sable on her walk to work in Chicago each day & I could kinda understand that. Here people break out their furs when it hits 50 degrees F, and I find that unbelievably tacky & pretentious

 

[Aquamarina]

Yes, I know that a lots of people hate fur for many reasons. But for me Russian girl fur is nessesary thing. I can't imagine winter without fur coat. I have creamy mink coat, fox jacket and short mink jacket. No one anorak or faux fur can keep warm as fur.
If I live in Brazil or California I think I don't need it

 

[zuzulemon]

I would not wear fur.