FUR STYLES

FUR STYLES

FUR STYLES

The fur trade has seen a huge change of direction in the last few years but never more so than in the Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 collections.

Fur's use in clothing dates back as far as man with even early Neanderthal's realising the strength and warmth that could be harnessed from the furs and hide they had to hand. Although fur had been a constant source of clothing; it wasn't until the Roman era that it became revered and used as a high end fashion accessory to signify the importance of its wearer. From then on, fur became a sought after resource and the trade gained strength across Europe and the Americas, with it becoming one of the major sources of income across the continents.

Its popularity reached dizzy heights and its association with pure opulence in the late seventies and throughout the eighties sparked a raft of protests, the formation of many anti-fur groups and the re-introduction of faux fur. This also led to stronger regulations throughout the fur industry in the protection of animals involved in fur farming.

The most popular types of fur have come from Mink, Fox, Lamb and Rabbit and designers clearly have their favourites. Karl Lagerfeld has spoken out about his love of Mink, especially when finely clipped, while other designers have also shown an apparent preference for one type in their stylings.

The Mink is native to America, although has now evolved to survive on cooler European soil, since the release of many farmed Mink by campaigners. It is a carnivorous mammal that is well known for its soft and shiny textured fur and has the largest denomination of farmed animals in areas such as China and the United States. Mink was traditionally used in mufflers, stoles and coats, which became a reality once more in the latest fashions to hit the catwalk, especially in the Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Givenchy and Fendi collections, along with Alexander Wang, Ann Demeulemeester, Cerruti and Herms.

The Fox is also a carnivorous mammal which belongs to the Canidae family which includes dogs, Jackals and Wolves. Mainly farmed in Northern Europe, its fur is known for its distinctive colours and although still very soft, has a more hardy nature. It has mainly been used for capes, scarves and hats and can be found in the Christian Dior, Yves Sant Laurent, Kenzo, Matthew Williamson and Dolce & Gabbana offerings for the coming seasons.

Versace, Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang are using Lamb, or specifically Mongolian Lamb, in their designs. It is surprisingly lightweight pelt that expresses a long and curly wave pattern with a high sheen, usually in an almost reflective white that is mainly used in collars, trims and cuffs. While Helmut Lang, Betty Jackson and Jean-Paul Gaultier have been working with Rabbit fur, which is known for its innate warmth, range of natural colours and super silky feel.

However, it's not all just about the real in fur fashion as Stella McCartney and Chanel have been stoic in their support of the synthetic alternative of faux fur. Chiefly used as trims on coats and accessories, it helped create head to toe outfits from hats to Yeti boots for both men and women, in the latest Chanel Autumn/Winter collection.

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