You would have to be living under a rock, a warm fur lined one, to have not seen, read about, or experienced the extreme early cold snap that has hit across the U.S. With every major news outlet and weather service scrambling to help the public prepare to stay warm and safe, early reports from fur retailers, manufacturers and designers across the country state that consumer demand for the guaranteed warmth of fur is at an all-time high.
Simply put, to keep warm, fur is a must. Aside from the fashion-forward and on-trend factors driving record sales, the inherent wind-barrier quality (the leather) and heat buffer properties (the hair) that fur possesses dictates that it is the fabric of winter. Through technological advancements and skilled ingenuity, designers have reengineered some of the less desirable qualities of fur, like its heft and bulk, and made them a virtual nonfactor in today’s fur fashion selections.
Fur has an omnipresent fashion presence. Being used by well over 500 top designers internationally in everything from outerwear, ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories, fur has been seamlessly integrated into today’s fashion lover’s closet. Not relegated to just fur-specific salons anymore, fur can be found in virtually every boutique, department store and specialty store there is. Traditional furriers are gladly enjoying resurgence in the popularity of fur fashion as they offer full-service options for customers looking to redesign and care for older fur garments.
According to a study unveiled earlier this year, the global fur trade has now been valued at more than $40 billion worldwide, roughly the same as the global Wi-Fi industry. This is surely in part due to the industry’s infusion of more fashion-focused, casual and every day looks. This shift was dictated by the demand from both women and men who wanted to effortlessly incorporating fur while dressing and shopping for the hectic reality of their everyday lives. Today’s easy, chic, lightweight and versatile fur fashions are the “must-have” wardrobe additions, making a bold and beautiful style statement and reflective of the confident, busy and self-assured men and women who wear them.
To see more of the latest fur looks from the runway check out Fur Insider, your source for fashion, trend and fur insight fresh from the runways.
