The future and efficacy of fur fashion

[Panther10]

I have been wondering about this for awhile now. But it feels like the future of the fur industry might be on some pretty rocky ground. I’m a millennial, and based on what I have seen and experienced is that there are not a lot of people in my generation or younger who really appreciate the idea of wearing fur on a broad scale. At best I see either younger people wearing mostly vintage furs to avoid the stigma or they are sharing AI pics of furs on the internet and that will never be a physical garment that a person can wear.

There is also the matter of there not being a ton of younger apprentices,tradespersons and furriers who haven’t learned how to sew fur garments or worked their way up the ladder under the age of 60. And those who are looking to retire are going to want to do so but have no viable options when it comes to handing the keys over to the next generation. There are many family owned fur boutiques out there who have employed their children but most of them act as salespeople. I’ve never been to a single furrier in all my life where I happened to buy or tried on a coat that was made by the owners sons or daughters.

So this begs the question; Does the fur industry have a future it can depend on? What are the alternatives? Will it only be faux furs from here on in? Will new technologies such as lab grown furs or 3D printed textiles be the way that the industry can keep growing and not have to worry about the lack of people who know how to sew furs or be a act as custodians within this industry?

Admittedly, the idea of lab grown furs or 3D printed furs might also combat other obstacles that the fur industry runs into like the stigma of wearing furs, pressures from animal rights groups and local government regulations that try to ban the sale of fur and lastly it would do a great deal to combat the problems of supply shortages and sustainable resources. 

 

This is just something I have been thinking long and hard about over the last 10 years. I feel like this matter must be addressed and resolved if there is not much time left before this industry has no choice but to shut down with our lifetimes.

[shyfurwriter]

I have a few years on me and I can say without question fur fashion is but a shadow of what it once was. It seams every decade gets worse and I do not think the natural fur industry will be around for long. Many laws ban fur farming. People are turned off by hunting and trapping. Many fashion houses moved away from real fur and big retailers refuse to sell it. Even worse, Without younger people the craft will also fade with time.  You will see trends and vintage sales spike but it won't  support an industry that is made up of many different components. What will remain are high priced garments with pelts from a few foreign countries catering to the very wealthy, if that. I remember fur salons now long gone. Fur was in media advertisements, TV shows and movies. I was even remember people wearing furs in everyday living. I know I may bore many here with my "old stuff" post but fake fur and AI will soon be all that's left. But it's not real fur, and It will never replace real fur for me. BTW I look forward to having to eat my words as I have loved furs ever since I can remember.  I want to be proven wrong about this.

[minkme]

Very true on what is happening.  There are no fur stores San Francisco.  California ban the sale of new furs. This ban includes fur trim.  There are many other Cities that have ban the sale of furs.  It seems like it's slowly coming to an end. 

[Furguy12]

NYC seems to be doing great. Several fur stores I’ve been in recently have customers and one that does onsite work had several people being helped with coats.