Can Fur Be Sustainable?

There is a widespread of disagreement about whether it is sustainable to use fur within fashion. The relative sustainable merits and challenges of different types of fur (farmed, wild and faux fur) have presented strong arguments which have made the use of fur a contested topic of discussion. This research provides a broader understanding of the ways fur is used within fashion and the wider role of fashion within society, and how this relates to questions of sustainability and ethics. It provides a historical framework and objective arguments to explore the complexity of the relationship between fur, fashion, and sustainability and how these impact the way people understand and consume fur. It expands the existing binary fur debate of pro or anti-fur stakeholders by evaluating the perspectives of consumers and their attitudes to sustainability, ethics and the role of fashion and fur for their clothes. The research uses a combination of industry stakeholder interviews and a consumer survey to explore these different perspectives. By considering the complex nature of the history of fur use in human society, the changing dialogue for sustainability, and by challenging pre-existing norms and expectations, this research poses a number of questions about the sustainability of fur in today’s modern society. By understanding the relationship between different stakeholders, the role of fashion and new ways of framing sustainability, this research provides an informed and objective response to the research question to allow others to consider and debate whether different types of fur can be sustainable.