We here at Lucky 7 Boutique are very sensitive about animals. That’s why we don’t use animal furs or skins. We use what is known as Vegan Fur and Vegan Suede. We’ll discuss what Vegan Fur and Suede are.
Origin of Vegan/Faux Fur
It was first introduced on the market in 1929 using hair from the South American alpaca. The quality of fake furs was greatly improved in the 1940s by advances in textile manufacture. Modern fake furs were developed in the mid-1950s, with acrylic polymers replacing alpaca hair. From a fashion standpoint, they were of low quality, typically colored gray or tan, and could not compare to exquisite furs like mink or beaver. But the fabric was inexpensive and warm, so manufacturers continued to develop improved versions of the fake fur, trying to give it a denser look, better abrasion resistance, and more interesting colors.
What is vegan fur made of?
With the worry over climate change and the possibility of animal extinction many brands are switching to sustainable products. And we are also seeing more vegan items. And with that comes Vegan Fur. Vegan fur is bio-based. Although it doesn’t come from fossil fuels, certain types can also be difficult to biodegrade. And because many bio-based furs come from farm crops, the environmental issues that come from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, as well as high water use also factor in. So at the moment there is still work to be done in finding an ethically sound and environmentally friendly fur alternative.
Is Vegan and Faux the Same
Is there really a difference? Turning to WWD website “In the substance there is no difference between vegan fur or faux fur. They are the same animal-free materials,” said Arnaud Brunois, communications manager for high-end faux-fur developer Ecopel, which counts Stella McCartney and Kering among its clientele. “I would say that the term ‘vegan’ has been more recently accepted by fashion brands, while at the beginning, vegan materials were considered as something mysterious only restricted to vegans…The term vegan fur is probably more adapted to Gen Z.”
As Liesl Truscott, director of Europe and materials strategy for sustainability focused nonprofit Textile Exchange, said, “In simplistic terms, ‘vegan’ refers to products that exclude animals (derived from and/or tested on) and the term ‘faux’ refers to an artificial or synthetic alternative. Using these definitions, the same product can be marketed as either faux or vegan-friendly.”
The bigger factor to focus on, beyond whether to label fur “faux” or “vegan,” is its impact.
Traditionally, faux fur has been made from synthetic fibers, which, because these fibers are derived from fossil fuels and often shed microplastics, they’ve tapered off in favor among those pushing for greener materials. And that has begged the questions: is faux fur sustainable?
The answer is manifold and, in some ways, complex.
“Some faux fur may be made from recycled inputs, which helps address the negative effects from the petrochemical industry, while doing nothing to address the effects of microplastics. Similarly, bio-based faux fur, which some may refer to as vegan fur, may reduce the reliance on petrochemical inputs, although not necessarily entirely. Bio-based does not inherently mean that the fibers are biodegradable, and depending on the type of bio-based production methodology, they can also produce microfibers that are toxic to aquatic life,” Truscott explained. “Bio-based fibers produced from corn, sugarcane, or other agricultural feedstocks may also come with the associated impacts of crop production such as fertilizer, pesticides, water and land use. In this sense, bio-based faux fur is highly dependent on the unique producer and supply chain. While not directly linked to issues of animal rights, both petroleum and plant-based faux fur can have adverse effects on animals and ecosystems through microfiber shedding and chemical use.”
So we can conclude there is no real difference it is understood more and more designers are switching to vegan.