Celebrity support of this issue I think is really important, celebrities are looked up to as somewhat idols so they have great influence on what the public feels is cool or trendy. Paul McCartney, the former Beatle has vowed not to perform in China after being exposed to the abuse they inflicted on dogs and cats in order to kill them for their fur. His daughter, Stella McCartney is a top international designer that feels the same way about this issue as I do. I think that Stella with the support of her Father are taking a step in the right direction and also doing so in the public eye..fingers crossed some other designers will follow in Stella's footsteps.
Models are also fueling the problem, the public so desire to be as beautiful as them and as well dressed as them, when at the end of the day they are really just a blank canvas dressed in designer clothes to sell them. I understand that models don't exactly have a choice in what they are dressed in by designers but at the end of the day it does reflect back to them. Would you want to be known by as the girl who walked down the runway draped in an animal corpse with the head and paws still attached? I didn't think so. I certainly wouldn't. Julie Burchill, author of the article Fashions Love Affair With Fur, highlights some of these issues that I have talked about and looks at how the wearing of genuine fur is viewed in the public eye. The Guardian here highlights how the public and animals welfare activists are fighting back to try and influence people to stop wearing fur. Their protesting and drive to stop this issue gets heard by the public, yes it may be a little controversial their protesting but I defiantly think its far less controversial then the brutal killing and fur farming of innocent animals.
References:
Owen, J. Jewsbury, M. (2009) Fur Flies: Top Designers Lead Fightback. Retrieved April 14, 2013
from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/fur-flies-top-designers-lead-fightback-1299679.html
Addison, A. Smith, D. (2005) McCartney’s Solo Boycott Of China. Retrieved April 14, 2013 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/nov/27/arts.animalwelfare?INTCMP=SRCH
Burchill, J. (2000) Fashions
Love Affair With Fur. Retrieved April 14, 2013 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2000/feb/19/weekend.julieburchill?INTCMP=SRCH
Day, E. (2009) Would
You Rather Go Naked? Not Any Longer. Retrieved April 14, 2013 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/22/fur-rather-go-naked?INTCMP=SRCH
I don't agree with you about the idea fur should not used in fashion designing. The part I agree with you is that animal should not be cruelly killed, my opinion is that animal should be put death in a human way such as injections. And I think there is a need to set regulations to fur industry about the amount of animals they are allowed to kill in a certain period.But the idea about fashion including fur I don't see it is a problem.We humanbeings do eat meat, actually thinking about it eating meat is more cruel than wearing furs,or at least equal to the cruelity of wearing fur.If we don't eat meat, it is not very good for our health,so there will be animal die for human consumption anyway. In the fur industrial, same thing, animal dying for human consumption,there is no extra cruelity in it. I can see your point here is that you think the animal dying for fashion stuff should not happen, those animals' lives could have been saved. My idea is they should control the number of animals allowed to kill for fur industrial because fashion is not an urgent need for humanbeing. But I also think we should allow the using of fur in industrial to happen because human also have right to chase beauty.
ReplyDeleteThis my opinion only:)
Hi Langfei,
ReplyDeleteThe reason that I am so against this issue is because the animals are nearly never killed in a humane way, there are several different techniques that they are usually killed by, including : poisoning, beaten to death, dragged through electrified water, starved to death, gassing and others. These inhumane ways of killing the animals are the cheap option for fur farmers as they don't want to spend the money on animal euthanasia (which would be the humane option). I couldn't care less if faux fur is used in fashion design but I think its wrong to kill helpless animals in inhumane ways in order to make a coat. I understand that humans eat meat, but in this case once the animal is skinned then meat isn't eatable as its been treated with several harmful chemicals. I don't agree that humans have the right to chase beauty at the expense of abusing animals for their fur.
I do believe that "farming" or no "farming", it is not necessary. Furs may be luxurious and soft and wonderful to look at, but the plain fact is, many, far from just one animal- are killed, and then only the best part of their fur- the softest, finest and the part with the best colour- are taken. More animals than necessary are killed so the best parts of their fur- and not even a big part, alright- are taken. Far too many to count- forty or fifty at least. Yes, we may be a meat-eating people, but at least we don't go overly wasteful at it. Anyway, furs make people look old and old-fashioned!
ReplyDeleteI am also against fur in the fashion industry. Yes, we may eat meat but as meat is a source of protein and energy for us I find it to be something quite different to killing animals to make a fashion statement. There is nothing fashionable about inhumanely killing animals in order to look good, especially when faux fur is an alternative option (I can't tell the difference between the two anyway). These arguments remind me of the issues of poaching of endangered animals like Rhino's etc for their horns - something that to me seems inhumane and unnecessary and I for one will never wear fur or support the act of unnecessary killing and skinning an animal in order to look stylish.
ReplyDeletehi
ReplyDeleteThis is a very complex issue with to parts to it, animal fur is very highly regarded as fashion bu the way that the animals are killed for there fur and thats all is cruel and inhumane. The idea of killing animals for their fur alone sickens me, the fur is not needed , just to make a fashion statement is not a good reason in my opinion.
As an animal lover and vegetarian I support your argument. No animals should be killed for the sake of being part of our clothing just because we want it, whether we treat them well and kill them at the end in a humane way. It is killing them.
ReplyDeleteHave you checked the actual adverse effect of creating fake fur? I know you mentioned it in your post but I wonder if it is also ecologically killing our planet. Why do we need fur, whether real or fake? The fashion industry needs to give up the trend and guide people to an alternative trend.
I agree with you Katie! I found it really interesting that Paul McCartney 'vowed not to peform' in China! I think that killing an animal to make a fashion statement is disgusting. However, I do think that today people are more aware of issues such as protecting animals and the eco system. I am not saying that killing animals for the purpose of wearing a fur coat does not happen anymore, as I am sure it does. Although, I think people are have more knowledge about how badly animals are treated/killed, which In turn is causing people to be against wearing fur. Hopefully making the issue extinct.
ReplyDeleteCelebrity support, I agree is definately important. Celebrities are seen wearing fur in a magazine, simialar to a model and of course people want what they have/are wearing. If celebrities are seen being against the issue then many people will follow and no longer think it is the 'cool' thing to be wearing. I do remember seeing a lot of fur coats etc in magazines and thinking how nice they looked, completely unaware of the process to make it.
Hi Katie - I think you've done a good job at looking at both perspectives. It's a nasty issue and while it does seem unnecessary I think you could have perhaps looked more closely at the farmers as an opposing view and what effect the banning of fur in fashion would have on their livelihoods. I do agree though, the way the animals are treated is appaling and makes me shudder! Sure there is survival of the fittest and evolution etc, but the difference is animals (incl. humans) should only kill in order to survive - not to look good. And humans, being the superior race and capable of emotion, should have a responsibility to treat animals with respect. Do unto others as you would have done to you! Unfortunately, there are people that haven't evolved as well socially, and have no problem with being violent and cruel.
ReplyDeleteI think you've structured the blog well though and included some great links. :)