Vintage Fur, What Say You?

It seems the question reemerges every few years like clockwork.  Is vintage fur ethical?   I’ll tell you what I’ve been telling folks since my first day of thrifting umpteen million years ago.  The animals already gave their lives.  We can’t bring ’em back.  Many resources were involved in the process of turning pelts into product.  If they have been well stored, vintage furs can last many lifetimes.  So what to do?  The only thing to do as far as I’m concerned is USE THEM. 

I’ve heard of an organization that re-purposes vintage furs as bedding for the rehabilitation of  injured animals.  This takes them out of human circulation and helps eliminate “cruelty culture”.  Cool, right?  And while that seems a lofty enough effort, I like to keep things a little more simple, and… beautiful.  Because, yes, I still think vintage furs are beautiful.   And warm.  So I reclaim them into new pieces.  Gleefully.  Even though in my new adopted home state of Florida I would never have a reason to wear this cape, perhaps you do.  And maybe it isn’t a need, but a want.  It was made of a 1960’s vintage patchwork rabbit fur coat that regrettably had developed worn spots unable to be fixed.  

We also used that same old fur to fashion a new hood for this sweater hoodie.

Go ahead & check out both of these pieces in the shop.