definitely against, fur is absolutely stunning but its completely brutal the way they murder the animals...

Posted by: christina | August 29, 2006 2:44 PM

I agree with the above comment by Christina, fur is never necessary. Also, I think it looks really tacky and cheap, noone ever looks good in it (yes, I'm talking about you, Ms. J.Lo)

Posted by: The Bag Lady | August 29, 2006 3:03 PM

I have a love/hate relationship with fur because of the ostentatiousness of it, as well as the fact that the animals might be raised and killed in inhumane conditions (I don't know if they are or aren't- one won't get a nice pelt by abusing the animals). I remember PETA activists loosing hundreds of minks a few years back, most of whom would then starve to death or be killed by automobiles. Where's the logic in that? I don't think I would buy a new fur coat, but I do have my eye on a friend's coat that she wishes to sell, it's decades old, I believe it is beaver. I also have a vintage cashmere coat with a fox collar that is lovely, and a vintage sheepskin coat from Australia, the genuine article with attached fleece and bone buttons, none of this faux-fleece stuff for me, thank you! In my neck of the woods, that one has turned out to be the real head-turner.

I remember giving away some minks of my mother's when she died, now I wish I had them back, but I was gripped by anti-fur fever then. Thus, I would say I am ambivalent about the whole issue. I buy vintage because it doesn't benefit the fur industry. I think anyone who would drop $10,000 on a coat might put the money to better use, but then, one could say that about a great many things.

I think it is an honorable position to be against the wearing of fur- as long as one neither owns leather shoes nor eats meat. It is not necessary to do either of those two things to have a fabulous and healthy life. But, it is logically inconsistent to just pick on the fashion industry for its use of fur if one happens to indulge in the aforementioned uses of animal bodies.

Posted by: Dani | August 29, 2006 4:35 PM

Totally against fur and I'm sick of seeing it in fashion magazines. It's not necessary for warmth and protection from the elements as it was many centuries ago and to use it merely for a fashion statement is abhorrent.

Posted by: ShoeGurl | August 29, 2006 5:54 PM

Fur is gross and unnecessary here. Surely Burberry has enough nice furless things to display.

I also take issue with the argument that people who wear leather shoes or eat meat shouldn't protest fur. That's like saying that anyone who drives a car or runs their dishwasher shouldn't complain about global warming - it's possible to make steps in the right direction without going whole hog on an issue.

Posted by: Julia | August 29, 2006 6:13 PM

Well, I like fur anyway. :) I have to say I drool over the ladies in old movies in their so-chic fur coats. I probably wouldn't buy a fur coat even if the opportunity arose because I'm too poor and cheap; the money could go to something else more immediate and I couldn't afford the chance of someone ever sabotaging it! What can I say, I'm just a cave woman at heart. I also like leather shoes and meat. Yum yum.

Posted by: Jules | August 29, 2006 8:44 PM

Julia, transportation and utilities are arguably more essential to modern life than what one wears on one's feet. In addition, "anyone who drives a car or runs their dishwasher," can drive a hybrid car or use energy-efficient appliances. These efforts would be compatible with criticism of global warming. Driving an SUV (by one's self, no less!) and leaving all the lights on, would not. However, to just say "Fur is bad," and not do even the tiniest bit to alleviate animal suffering in other ways implies a lack of integrity. It's a shallow argument.

Posted by: Dani | August 29, 2006 11:25 PM

I'm completely against any real fur, but I really don't take PETA seriously anymore. There's always SOMEONE every week that's annoyed them, they've become a bit of a joke. I'm not going to protest against it, if Burberry wants to make fur coats then that's their choice, but I'm not going to buy or wear them.

Posted by: Frapp | August 30, 2006 9:26 AM

Interesting mix of responses :)

Personally, I love a bit of fake fur, and I have a little fitted jacket that comes out every winter. I think it looks a bit glam, and I love wearing it, but I wouldn't wear or buy a real one. I don't even know why, really: I wear leather shoes and carry leather bags, but for some reason real fur just gives me the creeps.

Posted by: Amber | August 30, 2006 9:58 AM

real fur is disgusting - any1 that wears it shud look on petas website! they skin the animals alive in china , all that for a coat? faux fur looks just as good as the real thing without the pointless torture. i kno sum ppl will say theres no difference from leather to fur, but the cow wasnt skinned alive. there was also a thing a few years ago where baby lambs were being pulled out of the womb because then their pelt is softer. also u dont even need to pay fortunes for real fur now - iv seen real fur trimmed bags and coats in my local market, i think thats why ppl are wearing fur because it is more available than b4. also the stigma towards wearing real fur has gone - which i find a shame.

Posted by: a | August 30, 2006 3:46 PM

I love fur. period.

Posted by: Andrea_Frodsham | September 28, 2006 6:31 PM

I'm a veterinary student researching ethics in veterinary medicine and I end up on this website, reading opinions on fur coats! ha

Posted by: elisha | November 23, 2006 6:12 AM

People who are ethically opposed to fur coats are either hypocrites are just flat out misinformed. PeTA flat out lies about fur and people swallow it whole and never even try to think for themselves.

An Example: PeTA says 90% of furs come from China. This is spin. 90% of fur coats are sewn together in China. The 3 biggest fur ranching countries are the USA, Canada and Finland. Companies buy pelts from them then send them to China to be sewn together because human labor in China is really cheap.

PeTA also says it's impossible to tell where your fur came from. That is a flat out lie. It is a law in most European and American countries that all furs being sold in retail have to come with a tag that says what the fur is, where it was raised and where it was sewn together.

If people actually bothered to think for themselves and look anywhere else besides PeTA for real facts on fur, they would find out that not only is fur not cruel or wasteful, but that fur bearers are often treated much better than cows, pigs and chickens. The Finnish Veteranary society even said that the country's mink were the best treated livestock in the whole country.

If you eat meat, or wear leather, fur is absolutely 100% no worse. The only reason PeTA attacks fur so vehemently is because they're cowards and it's easier to pick on women than big burly bikers wearing tons of leather.

Also, faux fur is made from crude oil and doesn't biodegrade and isn't recyclable. So, if you wear faux fur, you're ruining the environment. Meanwhile, fur is all natural, using mostly salt and alum to preserve it, is biodegradable, recyclable and a renewable resource. Most of the waste generated by fur farms even goes to produce fertilizers. Not to mention that they haven't made a faux fur that is as soft or anywhere near as warm as the real thing.

Think for yourself. Do your own research. Don't just swallow the animal rights propaganda blindly. You'll see that the only difference between fur and leather is that someone used a razor on one.

Posted by: Gwen | November 26, 2006 2:34 AM

I think Fur looks awful, it's also disgusting that Animals are raised and so brutally murdered just for other's vanity. People who wear Fur should be shot!

Posted by: Leo | January 17, 2007 12:18 PM

http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/videodirect.asp?video=fur_farm

Posted by: fur | January 17, 2007 6:45 PM

Fur wearers are heartless and cruel.

Posted by: brad | March 6, 2007 9:44 PM

fur is disgusting- i dont think you can apply the same logic to leather shoes- most shoes unfortunately are made of leather- there are very few ecoleather choices out there as of now, if there were i would certainly rather buy fake leather shoes, but i digress. skinning an animal for their hide is ruthless and inhumane not to mention a complete waste. at the very least for leather the meat is also eaten (though i dont eat meat myself)
the way they brutally abuse and kill these animals is heartless- how would any of you like an electrode stuck up your ass and be skinned (sometimes alive) just for a fashion statement? how vain and stupid. not to mention its just plain gaudy.

Posted by: steff | June 11, 2007 8:51 AM

animals feel pain just like humans do- period. you are vain and retarded to think they dont. just admit that you dont give a damn about suffering, as long as you are not on the receiving end. i spit on anyone that makes a "fashion statement" by ripping off an animals hide- vain vain vain. shame on you.

Posted by: ali | June 11, 2007 8:54 AM

"The most dangerous individuals are those cursed with the unfortunate, rare combination of stupidity and cruelty; they punish without reason, are oblivious to their faults and are wholly unpredictable in nature."

this quote seems to fit vain fur fashion wearers quite well...

Posted by: furisgross | June 11, 2007 8:55 AM