Ever heard of the saying,’Be comfortable in your own skin’? I can assure you that this saying means to be comfortable with who you are rather than using skin (animal skin) for fashion. The very thought of it not only makes me sick to my stomach, however it also makes me wonder, where is the compassion for all those beautiful animals that are born, grow, and fight for survival only to end up being someone’s coat or shoe?
Being a fashion student myself, I was constantly exposed to people who believed that killing for fashion (literally!) wasn’t such a horrible thing. As much as I was disturbed by that notion, I think it could either be ignorance (since ignorance is bliss) or the fact that they don’t really know or want to know what happens to those animals. Due to fashion, every single year, millions of animals are bred and killed for their fur and it’s a fast growing industry that keeps expanding.
Initially fur was used as a way to survive and keep warm in the freezing weather. We’re come a long way in terms of technology and development, surely the fur is no longer needed to keep us warm anymore. There are tons of beautiful and chic alternatives that work just as well (if not better) than having to sarcifice another living being. Animals on fur farms (that’s the term for it, ‘fur’ farms) spend their entire lives living in tiny, cramped, filthy spaces.
Much like any other form of animal breeding, these animals are tortured in terms of living space, basic needs and any form of love. This however isn’t the worst of it. From boiling and skinning animals alive, to beating them repeatedly so they die, to electricuting them. You name the form of torture, they’ve probably done it. Imagine, animals are bred to live to provide their skin and then tortured to death.
Here’s a rough estimation of how many animals need to suffer and die in order to create a fur coat:
There are a few ways to make an impact without going out of your way which I practise. It may seem like not much, but a little goes a long way and you’ll never know what difference you can make, so why not try right?
– If you absolutely need to wear fur, use the alternative faux fur instead. You can tell the difference in terms of texture and length. If it is real fur, it’s much softer (kind of like petting a cat) and the lenght may vary. Another alternative is sticking a pin through it. If it goes through easily, it is most probably faux fur because the pin is sliding through a synthetic base. Also, you will be able to tell based on the pricing as real fur tends to be expensive.
– Look out for brands that have an anti-animal cruelty tag or sign. Most likely their items will be more organic, hence better for you and the enviroment as well.
– If there’s a brand you love that promotes usage of fur and animal skin, send them an email telling them that you would rather not support brands that aren’t animal friendly.
– Support People for the Ethical Treatement of Animals (PETA)’s animal rights campaigns that include ending fur and leather use.
Most people think that because they don’t physically hurt or kill the animals themselves, it’s not their fault. What they fail to realise is, they are the reason the demand is there for animals to be torture and killed in the first place. It’s blood on their hands as much as it is the people who did it. If you wouldn’t wear your dog (or pet of choice), then please don’t wear fur.
