Fake fur, also called faux fur, is a pile fabric engineered to have the appearance and warmth of fur. Fake fur can be made from a variety of materials, including polyester, nylon, or acrylic.
First introduced in , fake furs were initially composed of hair from the South American alpaca. The ensuing decades saw substantial improvements in their quality, particularly in the s, thanks to significant advances in textile manufacturing. By the mid-s, a transformative development in fake furs occurred when alpaca hair was replaced with acrylic polymers, leading to the creation of the synthetic fur we recognize today.[1]
The promotion of fake furs by animal rights and animal welfare organizations has contributed to its increasing popularity as an animal-friendly alternative to traditional fur clothing.[2]
[
edit
]
A fake fur blanketFake fur is used in all applications where real fur would be used, including but not limited to stuffed animals, fashion accessories, pillows, bedding and throws. It is also used for craft projects because it can be sewn on a standard sewing machine. In contrast, real fur is generally thicker and requires hand sewing or an awl.[3] Fake fur is increasingly used in mainstream teen fashion; the stores Abercrombie & Fitch[4] and American Eagle[5] commonly use fake furs in their trapper hats and jackets. Ralph Lauren has promoted the use of fake fur in its collections.[6]
Fake fur is widely used in making fursuits in the furry community.[citation needed]
In the Soviet, and now Russian Army, fish fur is a derogatory term for low-quality winter clothing and ushanka hats, from a proverb that "a poor man's fur coat is of fish fur".[citation needed]
[
edit
]
[
edit
]
Unlike genuine fur, faux fur is a type of fabric, which makes it relatively easy to sew. The synthetic nature of faux fur eliminates the need for cold storage, which prevents deterioration in real fur. In addition, fake fur is not infested by moths, unlike real fur.[7] However, fake fur should be stored in a garment bag or container away from humidity, heat, and sunlight to maintain its quality.[8]
Due to the controversy of fur garments, technology facilitating the production of fake furs has significantly improved since the early twentieth century. There are new tailoring and dyeing techniques to "disguise" fur and change the traditional image of fur with its conventional image associated with the elite fur-clad woman.[9] Modacrylic is a high-quality 'fur' alternative that gains attraction to its convincing look as an alternative to real fur. Howard Strachman of Strachman Associates, a New York-based agent for faux fur, states that synthetic acrylic knitted fabrics have become a go-to resource for high-end faux fur, much of it coming from Asia.[citation needed] New methods of production are still being developed. One technique combines coarse and fine fibers to simulate mink or beaver fur.[10]
[
edit
]
Faux fur is perceived as less durable than real fur, and this attribute coupled with its lesser insulating properties forms part of the critique against its use.[11] Also, unlike real fur, fake furs are not able to keep snow from melting and re-freezing on the fiber filaments, which can be dangerous in extremely cold environments.[2]
Fake fur production could consume less energy compared to real fur. A study conducted in claimed that the energy consumption for the production of one coat made out of fake fur was 35 kilowatt-hours (120,000 British thermal units), compared to 127 kWh (433,000 Btu) for trapped animals and 2,340 kWh (7,970,000 Btu) for animals raised in fur farms.[12] Despite these findings, the study has faced criticism for perceived bias and dated methodology.[13]
[
edit
]
Fake fur is less biodegradable due to its composition of various synthetic materials. These materials often include blends of acrylic and modacrylic polymers derived from coal, air, water, petroleum, and limestone, which can potentially take between 500 and 1,000 years to break down.[13]
[
edit
]
Fake fur is significantly less expensive than real fur. The price spectrum for luxury fake fur items spans from as low as $127 to as high as $8,900 in the mass market. In contrast, real fur luxury outerwear begins at a significantly higher price point, starting at $2,300.[14]
[
edit
]
Some coats labeled as having faux-fur trim were found to use actual fur in a test conducted by the Humane Society of the United States.[15] In the United States, up until , a labeling loophole allowed any piece of clothing that contains less than $150 of fur to be labeled without mentioning that it included fur.[15] This is the equivalent of thirty rabbits, three raccoons, three red foxes, two to five leopards, twenty ring tailed lemurs, three domestic dogs, or one bear.[15]
[
edit
]
Fake fur is popular in fashion, and several fashion designers incorporate the material throughout their collections. Hannah Weiland, founder of Shrimps, a London-based fake fur company, says, "I love working with faux fur because it doesn't molt and it feels just as soft. If the faux kind feels as good, why use the real kind?"[16] Designer Stella McCartney also incorporates faux fur throughout her collections with tagged patches reading "Fur Free Fur."[17]
German company Hugo Boss made a public stance against animal fur by pledging to go completely fur-free, taking effect with their Fall/Winter collection. With the announcement, creative director of sportswear Bernd Keller stated the company's intention to prioritize animal protection and sustainability over convenience.[18]
SpiritHoods is a Los Angeles based apparel company and specializes in faux fur coats. PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) awarded them the Libby Award in , and for being a cruelty-free clothing brand.
Fake fur is also used for its versatility in color and shape. Julie de Libran, the former artistic director of Sonia Rykiel, incorporated a combination of both real and fake fur in her collections. De Libran stated that she utilized fake fur for its ability to take on creative colors and forms, giving it a playfulness that natural fur alone could not create.[17]
Prada embraced synthetics in their Fall/Winter collection. Miuccia Prada, the brand's owner and designer, commented that she was bored with real fur, and as a result, she included fake fur in her collection that year. In addition, Dries Van Noten, Hussein Chalayan, Julien David, Julie de Libran for Sonia Rykiel, Kate Spade, and many others featured fake fur in their fall collections.[17] In addition, Prada, Max Mara and Dries Van Noten have included mohair faux fur in their collections.[19]
The global artificial fur industry is projected to grow at a rate of over 15% by .[20]
[
edit
]
An alternative to real fur, faux fur is a warm, durable and versatile fabric commonly used in fashion to make outerwear and accessories.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Huihai sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
With its ethical advantages over real fur, faux fur provides stylish wearability whilst being completely animal friendly.
Read on to discover everything you&#;ve ever needed to know about faux fur!
What is faux fur made from?
Why is faux fur bad?
Is faux fur animal-friendly?
Why is faux fur so expensive?
Is faux fur worse than real fur?
What is ethical fur?
Is faux fur warmer than fur?
A blend of polyester, modacrylic and acrylic fibres, faux fur, also known as fake or synthetic fur, is a pile fabric that simulates real animal fur.
First introduced in , faux fur was originally made from alpaca hair. By the s, however, the quality of fake furs had vastly improved thanks to advances in textile manufacturing technology.
In the s, acrylic polymers replaced alpaca hair to create the first fully synthetic fur coats.
Today, faux fur is primarily made from a blend of acrylic and modacrylic polymers. Easy to cut, shape and process during manufacturing, faux fur can easily replicate the texture and appearance of real fur.
Other than the obvious animal-friendly advantages, synthetic furs made from polymers can also sustain dye no matter how often they are washed. And, unlike real fur, they don&#;t require cold storage to prevent deterioration.
Although cruelty-free and better for animal welfare, many argue against faux fur and its environmental impact.
Unlike real fur, synthetic fur is manufactured using synthetic fibres and non-renewable petroleum-based products; therefore, it isn&#;t biodegradable, taking hundreds of years to decompose in landfills.
Synthetic clothing is one of the largest contributors to microplastic pollution in the UK due to our fast-fashion, throwaway culture.
Faux fur&#;s acrylic and polyester properties damage the environment by releasing microfibres into our waterways when washed. These toxic microplastics pollute waters and could enter our food chains if eaten by aquatic life.
However, faux fur is still a humane alternative to real fur, and although it has a planetary impact, if you look after yours correctly, you&#;ll help to minimise this.
Faux fur is a perfect vegan and cruelty-free option for those who love the look of fur but not at an animal&#;s expense.
Faux fur is completely artificial and free from animal derivatives, made from synthetic materials, acrylics, modacrylics and polyesters. With advances in textile technology, faux furs are now produced from bio-based fabrics, plant-based ingredients, and even 3D-printed hairs, reducing their environmental impact.
The cost of faux fur varies widely, reflecting the quality and durability of the fabric.
Most faux fur is made from polyester and acrylic blended yarn knitted into a fabric backing.
The higher the yarn quality and the more durable, soft, and authentic the faux fur, the more it will impact the finished fabric&#;s price.
The heaviest faux fur fabrics are the most expensive, as they require extended knitting time and more dye, increasing the price of the finished garment.
Similarly, a faux fur fabric in one block requires less manufacturing time than a coat with various textures or colours and is usually cheaper.
As with most things, the cost of your faux fur will truly reflect its quality, density and durability.
A higher-priced faux fur garment will more likely withstand multiple wears if looked after correctly.
Faux fur is a niche material, representing just 0.1% of the 80 billion garments produced globally every year.
Although blamed for polluting the environment with microfibres, faux fur coats require much less frequent washing than most synthetic garments and take four times less energy to manufacture than a real fur coat.
As a synthetic fabric, faux fur is denounced for its impact on the environment, but as an ethical alternative, there are no real arguments to suggest that it&#;s worse than real fur.
Ethical fur is a by-product of meat production.
When livestock are killed for meat, their pelt and skin are discarded. Ethical fur production uses this by-product for clothes, shoes and home textiles, transforming waste into something of value.
Similarly, if animals are culled for environmental management, their fur could be considered ethical if used in textile production.
Although faux fur can replicate real fur in appearance, it struggles to compete for warmth.
Due to its synthetic nature, faux fur doesn&#;t allow the skin to breathe and isn&#;t as insulating as real fur naturally grown by animals for insulation. Most real fur coats also benefit from having an inner fur lining for added warmth.
Although faux fur is the obvious and most ethical choice for fashion, real fur is more suitable for hiking, skiing or mountain climbing as it&#;s better equipped to protect the wearer from harsh conditions. Real fur can also keep snow at its top surface layer to prevent freezing.
Our faux fur clothing collection has you covered for every occasion. Whether it is a striking leopard print faux fur jacket for a glamorous night out, a stylish faux fur cardigan to elevate your office looks, or a cosy faux fur gilet for the transitional seasons, we&#;re confident you will find a piece you&#;ll treasure in the collection at Jayley.
Jayley Cashmere and Banana Blend Cardigan
If you want to dip your toe into the faux fur trend first, or you&#;re looking for even more ways to incorporate it into your looks, our collection of faux fur accessories is the place for you.
Stay warm in style with our faux fur hats, gloves and scarves &#; available in a beautiful range of colours and prints, from pastels and brights to classic monochrome styles.
Rock faux fur all year round with a statement faux fur bag from Jayley. Discover our extensive collection and find bags for every occasion, whether it&#;s a clutch bag to carry your night-out essentials or a faux fur tote bag to carry everything you need in spacious style. Or, why not browse our faux fur cross body and bum bags and find your new festival companion?
Jayley Black Faux Fur Bum Bag
High-quality garments that will last a lifetime with the correct care, there&#;s never been a better time to shop faux fur and banish the cold. Discover the full faux fur collection at Jayley today and fall in love with your new wardrobe staples.
How to Care for Faux Fur
Guide to Cashmere Scarves
How to Wear a Cape or Poncho
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Faux fur pillows supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.