What is Faux Fur?

As people have become more and more sensitive to the effect we have on the environment the use of real fur for clothing has become a hot topic around the globe. As men and women have reduced their use of fur from animals, faux fur has taken the lead in the fashion world. The word “faux” comes from the French language. It is used to indicate that something is “not real.”

Even though faux fur is not the genuine article, technology has advanced to the point that only an expert can tell the difference in many cases. Not too long ago, it was quite easy for a person on the streets to recognize fake fur. For the most part, this imitation fur had a cheap appearance. The colors didn’t appear to be authentic, and the individual “hairs” were too far apart or fell out. People purchased this faux fur because coats and accessories made from real fur were very expensive.

Popular Option

In the past 50 years or so, faux fur has become the fashion of choice for a majority of people. Many choose imitation furs because they are affordable yet provide the appearance a person is looking for. No animals were killed in the wild or raised in commercial operations to provide natural fur for the coat or other garment.

Real fur is still available but the number of companies offering them has dwindled considerably since the 1960s. Activist groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the various chapters of the Humane Society and others have established a presence in the media to make people feel guilty when they choose an item made from real fur.

What is it?

Faux fur is manufactured using man-made fibers (acrylic). These fibers can be colored with various dyes. Designers and manufacturers have become adept at imitating the patterns found on the coats of animals such as fox, mink etc. If an individual is careful in his or her selection of a faux fur item, it’s a safe bet that no one will be able to tell the difference (without very close inspection).

There are some benefits to using faux fur instead of real fur. While a coat made from the fur of a real animal will generally be a bit heavier and warmer than imitation fur, the faux fur coat may be more comfortable because it is lighter in weight. Not only that, but faux fur will stand up to adverse weather conditions as well as or better than animal fur. If the fur coat is used to protect us from very cold temperatures, the faux fur item may have to have additional lining or padding to provide the same amount of warmth.

Faux fur has come a long way since it was first offered in about 1929. Today’s imitation fur items are generally of higher quality and will last longer than products made several decades ago. This has made faux fur an excellent alternative to the use of fur from real animals.