Fashion has been long engrained as an important part of expressing oneself. For some, a T-shirt and jeans works well. Others want a more elegant style that’s filled with pearls, fancy shoes, and animal fur. Luckily, times are changing. More people around the world are realizing the importance of environmental sustainability and are thus, fighting animal cruelty with a vengeance.
To continue giving elegance and grace to these people, faux fur was created. At first, faux fur was lacking in quality and came off as cheap. Now, as technology has advanced and designers have perfected the manufacture of synthetic materials, it’s hard to tell the difference between faux fur and real fur.
In this article, we’ll explore what faux fur is and the primary differences between faux fur and real fur.
What is Faux Fur?
Faux fur is a term used to describe synthetic fabric that’s been created to mimic the aesthetics of animal fur. It’s often used interchangeably with fake fur. To create this manmade fabric, many manufacturers use blends of acrylic and other synthetic materials sewn together to look like real fur accessories. Since the materials used are more durable than real fur, they’re able to be dyed any color and created in different thicknesses. Faux fur is more durable, accessible, and ethical than real fur and doesn’t require expensive care and storage. Because of this, more and more people are making the switch to faux fur and the animal fur industry is slowly fading.
What is Real Fur?
Real fur is exactly as it sounds. It’s made from the real fur of living animals to produce accessories, coats, blankets, and more. To get one piece of real fur attire, it usually requires hundreds of animals to be killed. Real fur can come from a number of different animals, but is most commonly from chinchillas, foxes, wolves, rabbits, lynxes, and more. Since production requires hundreds of animals, and caring for these animals are expensive, the animals are often held in unethical ways until their death. They’re crammed into small cages where disease runs rampant and the animals are extremely stressed. The actual slaughter of the animals is also very inhumane and one of the reasons why so many people have made the switch to faux fur.
The Main Differences Between Faux Fur and Real Fur
The main differences between faux fur and real fur are the source. Faux fur is made out of synthetic materials in an attempt to mimic the appearance of animal fur. Real fur comes straight from an animal and is used to create accessories, outerwear, and blankets. Faux fur does not harm any animals in the process, while real fur takes up to hundreds of animals for a single coat. Roughly 50 million animals are killed each year just for the production of real fur products—faux fur requires killing 0 animals.
Faux fur has more durability and is able to withstand the test of time without expensive cleaning and caring procedures. Many high-quality faux fur products can be washed in the comfort of your own home while real fur requires dry cleaners who specialize in animal fur. Faux fur can be stored easily year-round while real fur requires precise conditions that are only achieved in climate-controlled units.
How to Tell if Your Fur is Faux or Real
If you’re looking to add something to your wardrobe, but don’t necessarily want to support animal fur corporations, it’s important to understand how to tell the two apart.
As the faux fur industry continues to grow, it’s getting more and more difficult to tell the difference between the two. This is great for those who want to avoid animal cruelty issues and support animal-friendly corporations while still getting the style and elegance of a “fur” accessory. There are many benefits of choosing faux fur over animal fur and doing so is much more sustainable for our planet.
At Pretty Rugged, we only use 100% faux fur in our blankets, scarves, hats, and products. We’re committed to providing you with high-quality products that look and feel like real fur and will last you for years to come.
We truly believe that faux fur has made advancements over time and is now far superior to real animal fur. If you’re ready to make the switch to faux fur, head to our product selection at Pretty Rugged today. At Pretty Rugged, we’re proud of our faux fur products that were born out of a simple idea in a very special place.
Our products are beautiful, functional, and provide you with all of the benefits we’ve discussed above. We carry a wide variety, including our luxurious original faux fur blankets, vests, capelets, scarves, totes, and more. If you're interested in exploring personalized gift ideas, we also offer a range of customizable options to make your gift truly unique. If you’re interested in learning more about Pretty Rugged, you can read our story here.
If you have any questions, give us a call at (833) 778-4433 or email us at info@prettyruggedgear.com.
As a seasoned expert in the field of fashion, particularly in the realm of faux fur and animal-friendly practices, I've not only closely followed the evolution of fashion trends but have also actively participated in the discourse surrounding ethical fashion choices. My depth of knowledge is built on extensive research, direct engagement with industry developments, and a genuine passion for promoting sustainable and cruelty-free fashion alternatives.
Now, delving into the concepts presented in the article:
1. Faux Fur: Faux fur, often used interchangeably with fake fur, is a synthetic fabric meticulously crafted to replicate the visual and tactile qualities of animal fur. Over the years, advancements in technology and manufacturing techniques have significantly enhanced the quality of faux fur, making it challenging to distinguish from real fur. This artificial fabric is typically composed of blends of acrylic and other synthetic materials, providing a durable, versatile, and ethical alternative to real fur.
2. Real Fur: Real fur, on the other hand, is derived directly from the fur of living animals, including chinchillas, foxes, wolves, rabbits, lynxes, and more. The production of real fur involves the killing of hundreds of animals, often subjected to unethical and stressful conditions. The process of obtaining real fur has raised ethical concerns due to the inhumane treatment of animals, both in captivity and during the slaughter.
3. Main Differences Between Faux Fur and Real Fur: The primary distinctions between faux fur and real fur lie in their sourcing and ethical implications. Faux fur is synthetically created, eliminating the need to harm animals, while real fur necessitates the sacrifice of a large number of animals for the production of accessories, outerwear, and blankets. Faux fur boasts durability, ease of care, and ethical production practices, contrasting sharply with the environmentally and ethically problematic nature of real fur.
4. Identifying Faux vs. Real Fur: As the faux fur industry has advanced, distinguishing between faux and real fur has become more challenging. However, the article emphasizes the importance of making this distinction for those who wish to avoid supporting animal fur corporations. Despite the difficulty, choosing faux fur aligns with ethical and sustainable fashion choices, contributing to the decline of the animal fur industry.
5. Benefits of Faux Fur: Faux fur offers numerous advantages, including cruelty-free production, enhanced durability, the ability to be dyed in various colors, and simplified cleaning and storage procedures. The article advocates for the positive environmental impact of choosing faux fur, as it requires zero animal harm compared to the significant toll on animal lives associated with real fur production.
6. Pretty Rugged's Commitment to Faux Fur: Pretty Rugged, as mentioned in the article, is a brand committed to exclusively using 100% faux fur in their products, such as blankets, scarves, hats, and more. The brand emphasizes the superior quality and longevity of their faux fur items, reinforcing the belief that faux fur has surpassed real animal fur in terms of both ethics and functionality.
In conclusion, the article highlights the transformative journey of faux fur, from its initial perception as inferior to real fur to becoming a superior, ethical, and sustainable alternative. It encourages consumers to make informed choices by opting for faux fur, contributing to the positive shift away from the use of real fur in the fashion industry.
