FGM Bespoke Unveils Fur Renaissance with Year-Round, Sustainable Apparel
Written by Karine Charlemagne
The use of fur or animal skin as clothing is arguably the first type of clothing ever worn by the modern man. Dating back to 40,000 years ago, the creation and use of clothes was pragmatically dictated by a being’s environment, consciousness, and self-awareness. During this time, known as the Stone Age, one also finds the creation of art, demonstrating man’s first interpretations of himself and life as both documentations and abstractions of reality from his perspective.
In an inference, the amalgam of clothing and art curating textiles and eventually fashion has immensely evolved since the Upper Paleolithic Era, as social norms ironically turn away from practices that were essential to the survival of the human race.
With organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Fur Alliance, and Lynx, consumers are increasingly opting for animal-free products. Despite the criticism and backlash brands receive for using animal products, the following objectively discusses pro-fur arguments indicating one can be cruelty-free and sustainable without being animal-free.
Reevaluating Leather: A Sustainable Choice for the Fashion Industry?
Sustainability has come to the forefront of many conversations concerning the future of fashion. Fast-fashion and man-made materials leading to significant environmental impacts including carbon emissions, contamination of water sources, and poor working conditions have threatened the fashion industry as a whole.
While certain animal products like leather have a reputation for being unsustainable, data proves the contrary. According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the production of leather, faux leather, and polyester materials for clothing has the following emissions:
● Leather - 17.0kg carbon dioxide per square meter
● Synthetic or Faux Leather - 15.8kg carbon dioxide per square meter
● Polyester - 20.6kg carbon dioxide per square meter
Hence, replacing synthetic leather and polyester products entirely with materials made from cowhide can reduce emissions of the overall textile industry by 19.4kg of carbon dioxide per square meter. Evenmore, clothing made from cowhide is more durable than synthetic and polyester materials. Cowhide clothing lasting longer than synthetic and polyester materials makes said products more easily upcycled, repurposed, and reused, which altogether is more sustainable.
Additionally, most data or studies comparing environmental impacts of animal-based and man-made textiles only consider the air and atmospheric impacts of the aforementioned textiles. Water, noise, genetic, and psychological impacts of cow farms compared to those of man-made textile factories are typically not measured. These factors may also prove the production of genuine fur and leather to have less of an environmental impact.
Reviving Tradition: Can Fur and Leather Lead a Sustainable Textile Revolution?
Tiara Peach-Hanlon of The Fur and Leather Centre and Furry Godmother (FGM) Apparel Bespoke envisions a “fur renaissance” cruelty-free and composed of sustainably made cowhide and other animal-based textiles.
As co-owner of the multi-million dollar brands, she is initiating a comeback of fur and leather in the textile industry to reestablish traditional practices that promote the production of sustainably farmed goods in the United States of America (USA) and world.
Can fur and leather be cruelty-free? Would the world entirely replace man-made materials with animal-based and naturally grown products to make sustainable clothing? Could using more textiles made from animal and natural resources support the agricultural sectors and economies of developing countries? Is it safer to work on a farm than in a factory? Could one earn a better income as a farmer than as a factory employee?
Arguably, cattle, which produce fur and leather, are used for consumption and other purposes beyond the textile industry, while man-made textiles can only serve one purpose. Why not reduce environmental impacts in other realms if the cow is used whether or not the hide is manufactured into a textile? Cannot using cowhide to create reusable textiles contribute to a zero-waste initiative?
There are numerous questions that need answers. Consumers and the world at whole, which are inevitably affected, impatiently await new studies providing more well-rounded data on the cost and benefit of such an unbrave new world.
Can a Return to Natural Textiles Transform Society?
Regardless of the wait, fashion designers like Tiara Peach-Hanlon continue forward as pioneers bringing back textile practices modern technology seems to make obsolete. We shall see how the full human environment responds to fashion trends and if a true renaissance (that removes all synthetics, polyesters, and man-made materials from the fashion industry) will forsooth have an overall better impact on the world in terms of sustainability, economic development, poverty alleviation, psychological well-being, and biological health.
Photoshoot Production Credits:
Model: Lil Mendeecee @lilmendc, Public Figure/Celebrity Talent
Brand: Furry Godmother Custom Apparel: FGM Bespoke, @fgmbespoke, https://www.fgmbespoke.com/
Celebrity Designer: Tiara Peach @furrygodmother.tiara
Brand Assistant: Tina Cross @peetiewaterman
Photographer: Rocquez Fluellen @iroqphotography
Photo editor and retoucher: Karine Charlemagne @k.c.picto_films
Creative Direction: Karine Charlemagne @k.c.picto_films
Production: Chez Les Mannequins @chezlesmannequins
Stylist: Kris Shelby @officiakrisshelby