Bronagh Loughlin shares news of the decline in the global fur industry, hastened by the pandemic.
Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann
As luxury brands and retailers decide to ban fur from their fashion lines and stores, vegan alternatives have soared in popularity. According to Vogue, in 2019, vegan products increased by approximately 258% in both the US and the UK.
One of the most notable places to ban the sale of the cruelly derived material is Los Angeles, known for its luxurious shopping district Beverly Hills. Other American cities have decided to ditch the material, as well as other countries across the globe such as Finland.
This boycott has become a widespread movement, as consumers, nations and businesses partner up, recognising that faux fur options are better for the environment and have the additional benefit of preserving animals’ lives. 2020 saw an almost 50% decline in the value of fur apparel imported into the United States compared to the previous year.
Global fur auctions which still take place virtually in countries such as Finland and Denmark are selling a very small percentage of the pelts, according to data from the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database. The North American Fur Auction, one of the last fur auctions in the U.S., has lost its lender and declared bankruptcy. It seems the demand for fur is wavering.
The Impact of COVID-19
The use of animal furs and skins – generally that of chinchillas, minx and foxes – are declining in popularity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been contributed to by the link between mink and outbreaks of coronavirus mutations, most notably in Denmark where the virus has swept through a quarter of the country’s 1000 mink farms, leading to the culling of around 10 million animals.
Infections of COVID-19 in mink have been detected in Spain, France, Sweden, the US, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece, and as a result, they are all now planning to ban fur farming by March, 2021. The practice has been illegal across the UK since 2002, and bans on the sale of fur products here are now being considered.
Animal Welfare campaigns against fur farming have shifted public opinion over the years. As a result, many fashion brands have ruled out the option of using fur and have switched to synthetic, faux fur alternatives which can be just as fashionable without the need for cruelty.
“Fur farms are not only the cause of immense and unnecessary animal suffering; they are also ticking time bombs for deadly diseases”. – Dr Joana Swabe, the Humane Society
Ethical Consumers
Although European consumers have largely turned away from fur, Chinese customers have taken their place. In the 2000s, the Chinese market grew and fur fashion became popular in the country as it is seen to represent wealth. Asia now accounts for between 35 and 40% of fur sales, with South Korea being another key market.
Nevertheless, global fur exports are continuously declining. In 2019, the value of all fur exports totalled €312 million, down from €317 million the year before. The fur farming industry employed just 1207 workers in 2019, and the number of animals bred for their skins also dropped to 3.1 million animals from 3.46 million the previous year.
The future of the fur industry is unclear, but its decline is undeniable. Whether or not that means we are waving goodbye to the trade for good is yet to be seen. However, the fur industry is fighting back by promoting fur as a natural and sustainable option. It is important that we continue to work to ban fur farming, and thankfully many countries across the globe are doing exactly that.
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