Feral Catwalks of London Riddled with Fur Fraud

I like fur because I love animals. I don't take them for granted, appreciating every admirable trait from exotic coats and generally adorable muzzles to their lovably delectable flesh (medium-rare).

What I don't like is being treated like a sheep by manipulative fur companies that have bribed their way on to the Fall 2009 catwalks. The Times of London reports that nordic fur companies like Kopenhagen Fur and Saga Furs have been lavishing designers with vacations to tour their luxurious countryside headquarters, and given free furs to work into runway pieces.

The quandary here hangs like a double-edged Sword of Damocles. Give in to the real-fur faux-trend generated by marketing tactics? Be prepared to slice off three-quarters of your wallet's girth, along with a sliver of the dignity you might once have had as your own stylist. Say a resolute "No" to being baited like goldfish? Follow that with a sympathetic "Nice knowin' you" to your favorite young designers, who need the advertising revenue--now more than ever--to fund a fashion house with with more creative real estate, unconstrained by financial deficits. Either way, mind your head.

Solicited designers include Issa and Todd Lynn, both talented in need of a financial boost to expand their original work. "It's like a sponsorship deal," Lynn stated. An anonymous young designer added further insight into the process: "Designers are approached by the companies. Although you would have to pay for materials if the clients ordered all the garments after seeing them on the catwalk, all the samples are free. The sponsorship is worth thousands of [British] pounds."

In London, the issue was not as much about clandestine design deals as about the city's notorious anti-fur majority. With Stella McCartney as lead vocals in the movement, paint-can squads in the supporting act, this past Fashion Week's more conspicuous fur parade has raised red flags.

The fur companies insist that their furry stock are treated humanely and harvested ethically, a claim supported by Todd Lynn. "I can understand the ethical side of it," the designer said. "You do hear horror stories but I was working with Saga and all their products are 'origin assured', they are ethically produced."

It's going to be one messy Fall season with the oncoming rat race of the fashion quandaries: being outfoxed by Big Fur, losing young talent to petty finances, and taking home a can of paint in PETA-red, sans 'can'. The best conclusions I can come to are to buy either the struggling designers' original, non-fur pieces, or to buy sportswear--in the literal sense. Some pads, a helmet, no big deal. Unleash the beasts, and bring your sword to the arena.

By Jamie Penaloza

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