The use of fur, especially in clothing, is very controversial. We all have our own beliefs as to whether we will wear fur or not; whether we would buy fur, new or not, or perhaps only vintage.
Image by yyellowbird
I, myself, cannot wear fur; it’s a feeling I’ve had since I was a child– it just made me feel uncomfortable. One night, when going home from a night clubbing in the French Quarter, I saw an antique shop throwing away clothing because it was going out of business. In addition to a couple of amazing dresses, there was a fur coat in the pile. While I knew that I could never wear it, I couldn’t stand there and know that animals’ lives were going in to a landfill.
The coat sat in my closet for years, until I found an alternate use and home for it.
More and more, I’m reading stories of young women inheriting furs, often from their recently deceased grandparents. Like me, they deal with the guilt of owning fur they will not wear but do not want to just donate or throw out.
There are alternatives though, to allowing that fur to sit in your closet while you stare at it with guilt!
♥ Bella Bear Company takes vintage furs that can be family heirlooms, and gives them new life as stuffed bears.
♥ Donate your pieces to your local theater.
♥ Donate to your local Society for Creative Anachronism group. Many SCA people (medieval reenactors) rely on historical accuracy in their costuming. Rather than have them source out new furs and pelts, donate your furs to be repurposed in to historically accurate costumes.
♥ Donate your furs to an organization like Coats for Cubs or any wildlife group. Many orphaned young and/or insecure animals can be comforted by bedding made from old furs.
♥ Thought I really dislike PETA on many aspects, their Fur is Dead program sounds good. It provides furs to needy animals, homeless people in the United States and foreign countries.
Does anyone else have any excellent resources for fur recycling beyond the above ideas? I’d love to hear them!
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these are great ideas – especially donating to re-enactment or theater groups; it saves them from potentially having to buy new furs, or even faux furs, for creative purposes. i never would have thought of that!!!
Good stuff!
This is such a great post! Although I don’t have any fur, I would have never thought to donate it to places like the ones you suggested.
Thank you for this! I inherited a few furs a couple years back that 1, I did not need living in warm TN, and 2, felt guilty about wearing, so I donated them to the theatre I was involved with, whose costumers were soo thankful for the donation.
I like the concept of giving them back to animals for comfort. I’ve seen the old studies about that and it really helps little baby animals feel more secure.
I just love your blog — your last two posts have totally rocked! Thanks so much for posting about alternative uses for fur — these are helpful and little-known ideas. I also have mixed feelings about vintage fur — I own a vintage 50’s sweater (handed-down) that has a fox fur collar. I actually do wear it on a rare special occasion nowadays. I figured — which is worse, letting it go to waste or at least utilizing it from time-to-time. But, it still does make me feel a bit weird.
@Jackie – Sadly, I didn’t have these resources when I found that fur coat! Hopefully though, in the event others end up in my situation, maybe this list will be resourceful…
@Annie Spandex – I have no doubts that it helps a bit! After interacting with my mother’s cats and having to return home, I know Lottie took to “nursing” on a stuffed money. I thought it may be because of his fur, and now I’m convinced of it!
@Tara – Tara, thank you so much! You’re too sweet. I definitely know how you feel about wearing fur– I’m of the opinion it’s definitely better to wear vintage furs than to let them go to waste, but I’d have weird feelings on wearing it myself, too…
I inherited one piece of fur. It is a rabbit fur hat that belonged to my grandmother or great grandmother. So I can’t bare to part with it. However on the animal note, my kittie, Frida Katlo thinks that the hate is a friend. She would snuggle with it as a baby. Now I take it out on occasion so she can snuggle with her friend (It is very delicate, so it is a treat for her).
And this is reason #450 why I love your blog, Ashe Mischief – you cover such interesting topics! Personally, I don’t think that I could wear fur.. I love animals so much, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing it..!
Wow, lovely post and great advice! I’m with you on not wearing fur…I’m actually wearing a faux fur vest today! :)
The only fur I wear is faux. I have a friend who inherited an heirloom fur this year and she was perplexed as to what to do with it, as she’s not a fur person either. Thanks for sharing those links, I really like the Coats for Cubs idea!
What an interesting question! I inherited a seal fur coat from my great grandmother. *eek!* I gave it to the first cold, homeless person I saw on the street…..
It was either that or give it a proper funeral.
~Hots