About Fur

According to BFTA members, fur retail sales in the UK rose by nearly a quarter in the 2005/2006 season, compared to the previous year.   This clearly shows that fashion conscious Brits who enjoy a touch of luxury are turning in ever greater numbers to the excitement and beauty of fur.

According to the latest survey undertaken by the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) the global value of retail sales of fur garments, trim and accessories increased by 5.6% in the year 2005-2006 to a figure of US$13,490 million.

The survey has been carried out annually by the IFTF within its membership since the 1998/99 season.

The figure, which covers the sale of fur at retail in the 31 countries represented within IFTF’s membership, marks the fifth annual increase since IFTF began compiling annual results.

Many designers are choosing to work with fur including:  Alberta Ferretti, Alexander McQueen, Jill Sander, John Galliano, John Richmond, Ann Demeulemeester, Julien Macdonald, Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Feraud, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Issey Miyake, Versace, Hermes, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Etro, Emanuel Ungaro, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Patrick Cox, Christian Dior, Chanel and Calvin Klein.

In November 2007 SAGA FURS and the BFTA held an event in London for designers and furriers.  Click here to learn more.

For further details of designers who are using fur in their collections please visit: www.fur-style.com

Quotes

Former BFTA Fur Design Competition winner, Robert Hall, was quoted in the Daily Express, November 9 2006.
‘Fur is a material I love to work with.  From a designer’s point of view there is no artificial product that can replace it’.  He went on to say ‘I had no criticism from any of my fellow students for using fur and I believe the fashion conscious people of my generation really like wearing it.’

On February 16 2007, Daily Express featured a two page article on fur. ‘So is fur really ok?’ The reporter stated: ‘More big names in fashion than ever before included fur in their winter 2006-2007 collections, with the consequence that it is the must-have of this season’s wardrobe – for the twenty something fashionista as well as for fur’s traditionally older fans'.

Evening Standard, 12 March 2007, The model Lily Cole stated that she is happy to wear fur as a friend of hers has investigated fur farms and ‘found them to be very well run and to be quite a good thing’.

Brian O’Neill writes a piece for The Guardian 19 March 2007 ‘I’d rather wear fur than go naked’ where he states ‘If it’s okay to eat animals, hunt animals, keep animals as pets, and wear the hides of animals in the form of leather jackets and leather shoes, why is it not okay to wear animals’ fur too?’

New techniques in manufacturing and dressing mean that fur now has a lightness and versatility that makes it even more attractive to designers and consumers alike.

The natural attributes of softness and durability are enhanced by new and improved processing techniques which mean that fur can be treated as any other fabric in design.

Fur is cut into silhouettes and dyed in new unexpected fashion colours with plucking, knitting and shearing techniques providing new lightweight constructions that allow finer flatter pile furs such as rabbit or mink to be treated in the same way as fluid wool fabrics and velvets.

www.sagafurs.com

Fur is a natural, versatile, transformable multi-dimensional material, which allows designers to create beautiful and unique garments.  For many the attraction of fur is its touch and feel and the way it plays with light and movement.

However, fur is no longer confined to exclusive or expensive clothing or to full fur garments. It is being used as trims and accessories, as designers explore the boundaries of their imaginations.

Fur for men is also becoming increasingly popular.  This season men’s furs have the important mix of updated tailoring and contemporary styling that give a modern edge to international men’s collections.

Today fur is not only used in fashion garments and accessories but is now becoming important in the world of interior design. The soft luxurious qualities of fur make it an obvious choice for throws, cushions and bedspreads.