HELL HATH NO FURRY

By Dylan Meyers

Fashion started with fur, as the use of fur clothing has gone on for about 120,000 years. In the beginning, it was a necessity. Now, creatures such as minks, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and even cats and dogs are made subject to the textile industry for profit. Many have heard of mink clothing, whether through songs from artists such as Future or Drake or celebrities brandishing it on the red carpet. While the fur is quite popular, many people don’t know what the animal looks like. North Americans specifically don’t often see minks in the wild, as the majority of minks are born into captivity in fur farms throughout the continent. Around 85% of all fur used by the fashion industry comes from these farms.

Minks are traditionally solitary creatures who live in both water and on land, as they have partially webbed feet. They have elongated bodies with long tails and short legs. Having only been in captivity for a little over a century, they are still essentially wild animals. Captive minks are bred in the winter and birthed in the spring. They are then put into inhumane, adjacent wire cages barely large enough to fit them. Feces travels throughout the cages, the hard wiring damages the minks’ legs, and the cages are major facilitators of disease. Scientists were able to chart the spread of the coronavirus pandemic through captive minks.

Minks are bred as large as possible in order to maximize the amount of fur they produce. Those selected for killing are put down through a process called asphyxiation, in which they are gassed using carbon dioxide. This is common practice nowadays, though not too long ago, minks were put down through a variety of methods. Anal electrocution, neck breaking, suffocation, and throat slitting were all popular forms of killing. When farmers were less experienced, consciousness was harder to gauge, leading to a large number of minks being skinned alive. For far too long, these amazing creatures have been subject to the worst of humanity.

Over 100 million animals per year are killed for their fur, and 95% of those animals are held in cages their entire lives. Minks are the most commonly used for fur garments, but so many other animals are also victims to fur farm practices. Such unnecessary abuse is bestowed upon animals, and How did this fur phenomenon come about? Fur has always pervades our culture today. Certain waves and trends have shaped the modern view of fur. Almost all waves are results of the higher class filtering into the lower, throughout much of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, setting a precedent for the exclusivity of animal furs that still

The stars of the silver screen also contributed to the modern perspective on fur. The golden age of Hollywood gave way to an increased influence on fashion, especially for women.

Stars such as Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, and Lana Turner brandished their fur coats on the red carpet and the streets alike. During this time, as celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey continue the trend set forth by early Hollywood stars. The issues of the fur industry culminated in the Rothschild Surrealist Ball of 1972, one of the most infamous parties of the 1900s. Many considered the Rothschild and bankers to artists and celebrities, to a party. The invitations described the attire as “black tie, long dresses, and surrealist heads” in backwards copy, only to be read in a mirror. Much of the guest list’s attire was designed by artist Salvador Dalí. MarieHélène wore a giant stag’s head studded with diamonds, while Audrey Hepburn wore a birdcage. Upon entrance, guests were met with mazes of cobwebs, decor featuring taxidermied animals and furcovered plates, and servants dressed as cats delivering drinks. The Rothschild party was a peculiar display of nobility demonstrating a higher class ideal of what fur should be used for, allowing the pedestal to be raised that much more. The culture of one- upmanship that fur created is a prime example of the capitalistic approach towards class. When fur became popular in Europe, the monarchs banned peasants from wearing it. When fur became popular in the United States, the Ivy Leaguers started wearing full-length raccoon coats that were out of the middle and lower classes’ price range. Movie stars wanted others to know their elevated status, so they wore rarer animals, such as minks. It seems that the popularity of fur has always stemmed from others trying to put themselves on an elevated pedestal over their peers. People wear fur to let others know they’re not on their level.

This idea connects to the “poor” stigma. The stigma against looking “poor” is so severe that many will do anything they can to avoid it. Fur elevates this concept, as there is always a rarer animal’s fur to be taken or a grander use for it. As a consequence, these once-free, remarkable animals are forced to endure cruel and unusual punishment. Many major brands and designers, such as Gucci, Chanel, and Versace, have made pledges to go fur-free. This is the continuance down the road to take down the fur industry. However slowly diminishing, it’s a battle that requires everyone in the fight to take a stand against fur.