Fur is a top fall 2010 runway trend but we prefer faux fur

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Fur is a top fall 2010 runway trend but we prefer faux fur

Faux fur expert Jaclyn Sharp and Imposter founder speaks out about the return of real fur in fashion

As we are recapping runway trends for next fall it’s hard to ignore the abundance of fur shown during New York Fashion Week. Without naming names and going runway to runway, there was a plethora of fur shown in almost every style from subtle to ostentatious, including the fluffy fox skirt shown by one household name fashion designer.

I felt like I was watching reruns of 80′s prime time soap operas where the characters dabbled in glutinous excess on every level, including fur. But have we not progressed from those stereotypes of what appearing glamorous is all about?

That was for the ‘Uptown’ set, while the edgier ‘Downtown’ designers showed less opulence and more esoteric wildlife skins. I believe they called these varmints on the “Beverly Hillbillies,” but they are still vanity fur all the same.

Fur is no doubt a passionate issue for many on both sides. We all need to be respectful of each other in our personal choices and tastes and in what we decide to wear and perceive as luxurious and ethical to each of us as individuals.

>> More on Fashion Week from around the globe

Jaclyn Sharp founder of Imposter

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of wearing vanity fur but do believe that it should be an educated choice. In my opinion, if you do decide to forgo faux fur and wear real fur it should be humanely sourced, meaning a by-product of the food sector and not merely perceived as something chic to throw over your shoulders. Of course there is also vintage fur and repurposed vintage fur but that too can lead to all sorts of right-minded discussions.

What I was seeing time and time again on the fall runways during New York Fashion Week continued to gnaw away at me so I decided to ask Jaclyn Sharp a few questions about the fashion trend and to see if there could be more than meets the eye.

Jaclyn is the founder of Imposter, the luxury faux fur line that gives a percentage of sales back to animal right’s organizations and has quite a celebrity following with stars like Carrie Underwood, Angie Harmon, and Olivia Palermo supporting the brand.

Here are some of Jaclyn’s insider tips on why she feels fur is so heavily promoted on the catwalks and how to bring fake fur “luxury without compromise” into your wardrobe:

There was an abundance of fur shown on the New York runways. Why do you think that American women are buying into the lure of fur again?

Faux fur vest by Imposter

In my opinion, trends in fur fashion can be linked to one primary agent. There is a powerful fur trade association that sponsors designers and provides fur pelts for high-profile fashion shows.
This trade association is also a major advertising sponsor in the top fashion publications. Their sponsorship leads to greater fur use throughout the industry and encourages a “pro-fur” trend, unless there is strong public opposition.

In addition, with most manufacturing done in China, many of the popular furs like coyote and raccoon dog are very inexpensive, leading to their popularity and accessibility as trim throughout the industry (for collars, cuffs, etc).

Of course fur is beautiful, but most don’t associate the garment with the animal that once was. What is the best way for the fashion conscious consumer to make an educated choice when selecting real fur or faux fur?

Information is essential. Consumers can easily find details about fur production online, or on Imposter’s animal protection page (www.im4animals.org).

It is easy to forget the origin of a beautiful fur coat or vest, but we must always remember that fur meant life to an animal. The true cost for our vanity is often a lifetime of misery and a death too horrific to describe. Unlike real fur, Imposter offers luxury without compromise.

Wildlife like coyote, beaver, fox, raccoon, lynx, and even muskrat are on trend over the more prevalent ranched mink and sable… is there any reason for the shift in pelts?

I believe cost is the main reason. Coyote, fox, raccoon, and raccoon dog fur are among the most popular, because of how inexpensive the pelts actually are. High quality faux fur is more expensive than real fur in many cases, sometimes by more than 500%.

There has been a shift away from full-length fur coats in the past few years, in part because of the cheap fur used for trim. Collars, cuffs, and pom-poms on boots may be less offensive to the average customer than a full-length fur coat (often because people assume the fur is fake), but this has allowed the industry to reposition itself – often deceptively.

Fraudulent labeling of fur / faux fur garments has lead to a new bill in Congress called the Truth in Fur Labeling Act (H.R. 2480/S. 1076) .

imposter earmuffs

The Imposter faux chinchilla and coyote vests are gorgeous– any other off-the-runway- looks coming up for next fall that have the look and feel of fur in your choice to save animals

Absolutely!!! We have Imposter accessories and custom faux fur colors in development!!! The Fall/Winter 2010 collection will be a showcase of the best faux fur available in the world.

If you want to wear it well, please think before your purchase…

Online:
Imposter, saving animals by harnessing the power of enterprise

_{Photos, this page only, Imposter For Animals}

Published on March 03, 2010

Sharon Haver

Resident fashion expert- With just about 20 years experience in the glamour industry as a New York-based photography fashion stylist, syndicated columnist, contributing editor, lecturer, on-air television/radio fashion expert, and founder / editor in chief of FocusOnStyle.com. Sharon Haver knows the modern-thinking woman wants easygoing style that suits her individual needs, spiced with just the right amount of flip and wit to make it personal.

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Tags: Angie Harmon , Carrie Underwood , fake fur , fall 2010 , fall fashion trends , Fashion Week , faux fur , fur , Imposter , Imposter for Animals , Imposter4Animals , Jaclyn Sharp , New York fashion Week , Olivia Palermo , runway trends