Fur
50-5000 usd/kgFur is a controversial material in that animals are farmed and killed for their skins (pelage). While the use of fur was fundamental to the development and survival of humankind, as a by-product of hunter-gathering, nowadays we have central heating and technical fibres. As a result, in most of the world, fur is considered a premium item, and marketed as such by luxury brands.
Certification schemes have been setup to try to provide consumers with reassurance when buying fur. For example, Furmark is a traceability programme that covers sustainability, animal welfare and the dressing and the dyeing of fur according to international standards.
Its properties and qualities are very desirable and provide inspiration for future material development. Synthetic faux fur has environmental consequences of its own, but offers an animal free option for extreme weather clothing. There are several plastic fibres that are produced to look and feel like fur, including polyacrylonitrile (PAN), acrylic fibre, cellulose based viscose, and polyethylene terephthalate (PES), polyester. They are produced with an airy lightness, multilayered pile, and coloured to resemble animals’ natural markings.