"More than 100 million animals die for their fur each year, the majority suffering in small battery cages. The UK banned fur farming as ‘unethical’ in 2000, recognising that keeping wild animals in tiny cages can never be humane.
But the UK is now outsourcing fur cruelty overseas, causing suffering to millions of animals. More than two-thirds of the British public reject this double-standard and support a fur import and sales ban.
Let’s lead the world on animal welfare. Let’s ban the fur trade in the UK" #FurFreeBritain
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Beware of Real Fur Masquerading as Fake
Campaigners have warned that fur "can de dyed every colour under the sun" and that consumers should still beware of buying it incase it is real. Animal rights experts have advised shoppers buying faux fur products to “leave the item on the shelf” if they have any concerns at all that it could actually be made of real hair.
The Humane Society International said there is a “very widespread” problem with “hundreds” of real fur products potentially marketed as fake, as it issued advice on the topic. The comments come after UK clothes retailers were ordered to take immediate action to ensure they are not advertising real fur as faux by the Committees of Advertising Practice"
Don't Accidentally End Up Wearing Real Fur
Winter is coming and faux fur is in fashion. While the UK no longer farms fur, as the above demonstrates, we have a poorly regulated trade from EU and Chinese imports, which commonly see's real fur mislabeled as faux.
Don’t Go by Price: It is wrong to assume real fur will be expensive, real fur can be produced and sold more cheaply than faux fur. The fur on sale in the UK is often in the form of pompoms on accessories and as trims on boots, gloves and coat hoods.
Beware of Buying Online: EU regulations state that “textile products” (clothes etc) containing fur should be labelled as containing “non-textile parts of animal origin”. However, this doesn’t need to be included in online product descriptions. A concern when so many garments and textiles are imported from China.
Check the Ends: The ends of real hair tapers and has pointed ends. The hairs of faux fur are blunt from where they have been cut in manufacture.
Check the Base: Animal fur usually has a leathery backing, where faux fur will have a material woven backing. However, beware of flocked fabrics, as these may also have a material backing but may be made with real fur fibers. If in doubt, don't buy it.
Burn It: Not something that can best tested in a shop, but real animal fur singes and will smell distinctly of burnt hair. Faux fur melts and smells like plastic.
Walk Away: Faux fur can be extremely convincing and if it's not faux, it's real. If you are unsure, don't buy it.
It's not just fox fur sold as faux. Sharing as may be of interest;
A combined morphological and molecular approach for hair identification to comply with the European ban on dog and cat fur trade