Please be warned, the first half of the post is muttering and it ends without clear conclusion. The latter half is an apology. I just couldn't avoid this post. I hope you will have a brighter day!
*
Faux Fur
It was a very cold night in December. When we were living in England many years ago, we often went out at night for various musical concerts in London. It was at Royal Albert Hall, or maybe it was at Royal Festival Hall, I'm not too sure but that night was very cold. We enjoyed the music in the choir seats (tickets for the choir seats were much cheaper and it was so much fun to share the moment facing to the conductor and other part of audience beyond playing orchestra. We loved those seats.) and then some memorable thing happened to me after the concert.
When the program was over, everybody stood up and tried to exit the hall as usual as in every concert. People were slowly heading to the exits, like being a flow in a complicated shaped river. It was crowded around me, as usual. And then I felt someone grabbed my purse that was hugged with my both arms. In the moment I turned my head back to see the person who was vigorously kneading my purse, the woman behind me barked
"Bowwow, wowwowwoow!!!"
with her hand still on my purse. She had a very evil grin (I'm sorry to say so but this is my polite expression) in her face as if she demanded me to reply back to her kneading or barking.
I didn't know what happened at first, and my initial guess was that she was too much affected by the moon or alcohol. She was wearing a colorful long knit cardigan over a Boho long dress. She seemed a civilized person rather than a growling wolf, although her lifestyle seemed slightly hippie side at the same time. Then I noticed that she accused me of having too much hair on my belonging. I was carrying a clutch-type small purse made of faux fur. I think I bought it at TOPSHOP because it was before my sewing era.
Yes.
I realized that she was trying to criticize me on animal abuse. She didn't have paint to spread over me, so she barked at me instead.
In a second after realizing, I reflexively replied to her saying "Excuse me, this is faux."
She loudly said "Reeaally??"
I said "Of course."
A 5-second silence.
And, she stormed off bumping everyone else to make her way. That was all about the incident. Nobody got injured, technically nothing happened.
However, it kept raising some questions in my head since that day after all. Although she promptly gave up accusing me falsely, it influenced me later. I keep asking myself the questions that I can't find right answers for. Probably she's done an amazing job in a different way without knowing it.
I personally don't think that production of animal fur for fashion purpose is any good or gorgeous at all. I think we should be intolerant of unnecessary animal abuses in the present day. We have plenty other options now especially for garments. I have no doubt in this part. However, hey, is it really OK when the subject is faux fur? Especially when it is purposefully similar to the real one? What's the point of faking it while I don't appreciate the real ones?
I wonder other questions too.
Will there be people who'd attack me or say bad at me because they wrongly think my items are real, again? And is there nothing I can do about it? Do I always have to make excuses that my items are not real? Why don't I give up entire idea of fur material rather than appreciating fauxness of faux fur fabric? Is faux fur pretty by the way? Doesn't it lose the glory even a bit even if no one uses real fur any more? Is real fur pretty, in the first place? If I think faux fur cute, why? Why on earth do I love those hairy synthetic fabrics while I don't approve them if they're real? Doesn't this mean I am indirectly supporting real fur?
Of course those questions are rather pointless (maybe you don't know what I am saying at all. I'm sorry if this post is utterly unreadable) and I don't know the right answers at this moment. What I understand so far is that I feel that faux fur is mostly cute but I have no legitimate reason for it.
I made a casual jacket in a long haired faux fur fabric. I think it is pretty. And wearing it is fun. It's like cos-playing. But I don't know whether I'm doing right or not because I don't know the answers yet. I'm not feeling guilty too much but it is possible that I'll be feeling differently in 10 years. At this moment, I think, it's OK. I hope it's OK.
Sewing-wise, it was one of the least precise sewing garments in my entire life. Too much hair and too much self-propelled movement in the fabric! I'd say I was cleaning the floor rather than I was sewing a jacket. It was fun though. Of course it's always fun when things get messy.
**
Sewing Retreat
As I wrote in this post, with helps of my friends, I was planning a "sewing retreat" which I wanted to carry out in this coming May at a beautiful lakeside near Mt. Fuji. We visited candidate sites and discussed schedules and other things in the last Summer. I was really hoping to throw a great event in 2015.
However, regrettably, I have to say that it has to be postponed for a while because of my private situation.
At this moment I have several private issues that need my strong commitment quite hugely and urgently, and I find that I literally have no time (or energy) for preparing well for this event to make it successful. One year ago I didn't know that these things were coming to occupy me... Thus it shall be postponed for a year or two.
I imagine that not many of you would be disappointed by this news as only few of you can actually come to Japan to attend it anyway. However, please accept my sincere apology if you were considering to attend the retreat in this May and if you were disappointed by this postponement. I hope your 2015 will be full of excitement and joy of sewing.
Happy sewing to you, everyone!
xoxo
yoshimi
=====
Faux fur jacket
A cardigan-type jacket without lining. The only feature of the jacket is a pair of side pockets. Giant snap buttons for closure.
Pattern: Jennifer from Annee-patterns (PDF)
Fabric: Acrylic fur fabric with polyester knitted base, lighter than it looks, very furry. Brown and off-white.
Coco sweater
I knitted a close fitted turtle neck sweater.
Pattern: Coco from Jo Sharp
Yarn: Cashmere yarn, pink and white.
More info about the sweater here.
=====
Yoshimi, I hope your personal situation improves or settles if it can't improve. On the fur issue, firstly I don't like fur real or otherwise, but I can see in a colder climate than Brisbane (where it is HOT HOT HOT at the moment) it can be very warm. If we are eating the meat why waste the fur.. but I don't think we should grow animals to kill to make a coat.. like you said, there are many other options nowadays. You don't need to justify your choices to the crazy fur hater, or anyone. I think the crazy fur hater should campaign in a more grand fashion and not attack individuals.
ReplyDeleteI understand the questions you are posing.
Thank you for your comment. I don't think we should grow animals to kill for the singular reason to obtain a coat for dressing-up, either. It is difficult question, because there seems to be no definite answer to all, but I feel I need to question myself now and then whenever I need.
DeleteWell your coat is just gorgeous Yoshimi, and you so lovely and toasty warm. I think it is perfect for the weather you are having in Japan right now! ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso, firstly, I am so sorry that woman was so rude to you. Because even if she was trying to make a point about which she had strong feelings, she was still being quite bad-mannered.
Secondly, I'm sorry you are having a stressful time. I wish for peace and strength for you this year, and if you do have a retreat next year I would definitely love to come and join in :)
...you "look" so lovely... Sorry for the mistake :)
DeleteThank you, Carolyn for your compliments. It is quite warm in spite of having no lining. Fur is indeed very effective against coldness!
DeleteThank you for the words on what I had on the night, too, but don't worry about it, I'm OK with her. She raised questions to consider to me, that was the most important thing I got on the night.
And thank you again about the retreat! I'd be very very happy if you can come. I think I should be OK soon and will have time to stop and think. There I go!
I don't think that anyone is promoting real fur by wearing fake fur and liking the touch and the feel of it. You like it for the the way it feels and wears and the warmth it provides and not because it reminds anyone of an animal (I hope, anyway).
ReplyDeleteMaybe fast forward 150years and people will wear fake fur (maybe a different name would be in order then) without knowing that in the olden days animals were raised and killed for their fur. I would not worry. It would never cross my mind to wear or buy real fur just because I wear fake.
Good luck to you in 2015, too. May you have a peaceful year nonetheless.
Thank you for your comment, frifris. It indeed sounds great to me if we will have types of furry fabric and no one would think them to be substitutions of something like animal fur.
DeleteThank you, again, and good luck to you in 2015 too!
Love your jacket.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!
DeleteLike the other commenters, I have no problem with faux fur but I am familiar with the argument you raise. In fact, I read quite a good article about it by an English fashion editor (on paper, and I don't remember her name, so I can't refer you to it).
ReplyDeleteIn line with your considerations, she argued that by wearing faux fur, the look of fur remains fashionable, normal and desirable. And even though the people who wear the faux fur items would never even consider wearing the real thing, less ethically concerned people wanting to copy their look might. And this argument is unfortunately re-inforced by the use of rabbit and other not-so-expensive furs for coat collars in certain brands (I saw those myself at a fashion trade show last year. Parka-type coats with fur edged hoods, a variety which we've seen with faux fur collars for years). And choosing faux fur in unnatural colours doesn't really help with this issue either because modern real fur is also sometimes dyed and cut to look quite different from the way it did on the back of an animal.
So, like you, I still feel a bit conflicted on this issue.
That said, you coat looks great and doesn't have a real-fur-like texture anyway.
Best of luck with personal issues.
Thank you for your comment, Lauriana. It is exactly what I have been feeling. While at this moment I'm not strongly blaming anyone using animal fur, I really don't want to unconsciously encourage the situation that promote animal fur. I feel conflicted on this issue and need to keep feeling it in a way, I think.
DeleteThank you for the kind words on the coat, too.
I also hope your 2015 will be great!
What an interesting post - asides from that ladies total lack of manners, I have similar feelings about faux fur. I have put aside fake cow hide boots because it felt way to similar to real hide (having grown up on a farm, I know what it feels like!) as it freaked me out. I love the plushness of your coat and it looks so cozy and warm, but I probably won't jump on the fake fur band wagon. You must be congratulated for knowing your limits and at least you have done the research for the following year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Linda. I confess that I've never lived with animals, especially farm animals. So I always wonder if my feeling about this is *normal* in a decent way, and if I'm behaving like someone who lives in a fantasy land. I probably know little about animal fur and it may be possible that this is the reason why I don't have big problems with faux fur. As I have mentioned in the post, I have no concrete settlement of it but would like to keep asking myself.
DeleteHi Yohsimi, I love your blog, both the sewing and the introspective reasonings. As far as I can see people wore fur originally I presume to keep warm, therefore if we can get the same cuddly, warm and happy feeling without killing animals for it, then we should be very happy. It is easier to handle [despite the fluff] can be dyed easily and is much more affordable - all pluses in my book. It looks good too. Life happens and none of us can really plan that far ahead, and we just have to prioritise and go with the flow. Keep sewing and blogging though, I look forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen, thank you very much for leaving your comment! Yes, you're right, life happens and none of us can really plan very far ahead. I'd better think that I have to believe in what I know and how I feel, rather than to look for a wisest answer that can satisfy all of us completely and forever. Maybe I'm being afraid of looking shallow because I know little about what really is happening in the industry. In my book, faux fur is not that bad thing like the one in your book.
DeleteI love your coat it looks so cozy and warm. but even more I admire your beautiful sweater - as I have no capacity to knit so i am so envious of knitting talent. and I hope your issues resolve in a good way, I am sending good wishes to you for peace and happiness in 2015.
ReplyDeleteHi Beth, thank you so much for your compliments! I loved this sweater very much, but it now has a new owner... my daughter loved it and wanted to keep it as hers. That is bad, but that means it's good too ;)
DeleteThank you for your good wishes, I wish you a VERY happy 2015 too!!
While I've never had someone bark at me (!), I have thought about some of the issues that you raised about faux fur. Is it like promoting the real thing? I think it's not really. In my view, faux fur is just another interesting textile texture to play with. Also, I'm not sure if it is true, but the idea behind the teddy bear was a story about (supposedly) U.S. president, Teddy Roosevelt, who would not shoot a live bear, and so the toy was named after him. Maybe it is a myth, but I think that "faux" can also be a message about conservation rather than just as a stand-in for an unfashionable-fashion.
ReplyDeleteThe coat is cute and looks really comfortable! Good luck with everything!
~Jen
Thank you for your comment, Jen. I think I know what you mean. I'd love to think that it is not like promoting the animal fur. But I can't be too sure about it because I am not one of the people who would think that getting real fur is cooler than getting faux one. I just don't know how much portion of people would feel like getting real ones by looking at faux ones... I have no guess either. Maybe we'll see quite soon?
DeleteThank you for your words on the jacket and good wishes too!
I'm sorry to hear you are having some troubles, and I hope that everything sorts itself out in the least stressful way possible.
ReplyDeleteThat woman sounds like a lunatic! I don't have an issue with fake fur, but I have always been nervous of wearing a fake fur coat in public, just in case something like this happens. I hadn't really considered before whether wearing fake fur for fashion promotes the real thing. I think, on the whole, I would say that it doesn't. I think people can usually tell the difference, and anyone who would wear fur would do so anyway.
I know someone who says that it's the *only* thing which will keep you warm in a Danish winter, which I find incredibly hard to believe. This person also considered taking up hunting when she moved to a new country as a good way to meet new people. Suffice to say, we have very different attitudes towards animals.
However, most people I know wouldn't even think of wearing real fur, and I don't think seeing people in fake fur would make them feel any different.
Thank you for raising such an interesting question, and I'm sorry I've written an essay instead of a comment!
Thank you for your kind words, Laura. I hope things will be easier very soon :)
DeleteI often feel I'd love to talk on this topic with people who have different ideas, but the thing is, it is not so easy to have meaningful conversation about it with them probably and mainly because our different attitudes aren't based on logicso much but came out of how we just happen to think, or feel. Then there could be hardly any fruitful discussions about it.
It's nice to hear that you don't think seeing people in fake fur would make people feel different in a way of promoting real fur.
Thank you, again, for responding my post, and for your comment.
I absolutely love your new jacket! Once upon a time... a long, long time ago, I had a faux fur jacket that I wore until the faux fur wore out and I loved wearing it every single time I put it on! You look lovely and the faux fur you chose suits you very well.
ReplyDeleteIt is warm and looks a bit special and I really like it. The base fabric is a knit, which is comfortable to wear too. Thank you for your comment, Lisa!
DeleteI take issue with people shooting animals just for their fur. To me that's wasteful and cruel. However, I don't have a problem using fur or leather that comes from animals that are killed for their meat, like lamb or cow. I can't believe that woman barking at you! That is really strange and rude. Sorry about your personal issues, and hoping you get a positive resolution to them. They jacket is fun and cozy looking!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Amanda. I think I mostly have issue with raising animals solely for fur, as I feel fur is not a good reason to kill furry animals. As we cannot live without eating and I think human being has been eating rather omnivorously, I have no problem with the idea of using integuments of animals we eat, like you say.
DeleteThank you for the comment on my personal issues, I hope I'll be soon OK. I wish a great year in 2015 to you too :)
Yoshimi! I hope everything is okay. Gambatte! As for the fake fur, I don't think you are trying to be insincere or hostile by wearing and enjoying faux fur, so I think you should have fun and be happy about it. If people are going to judge you because they think you are wearing real fur then that is their problem! Back in my 20s I made a pair of seafoam green fake fur pants. They were very hot, as in warm, and I remember getting a very bad headache one time when I wore them.
ReplyDeleteHi Mariko! Thank you for your comment. Although I'm pretty occupied with this and that, I'm relatively feeling OK and I hope everything will be better soon. Your seafoam green fake fur pants sound very funky (but I of course admit it's not good to have a very bad headache from wearing those "cool" pants...)
DeleteThere seems to be a bad rap reserved for fur that doesn't extend to leather, and I don't really get it? Anyway, love your jacket! Even if it did require ridiculous amounts of vacuuming :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I may be in the lack of information, or I may be too naive to judge about it. However, I don't know whether this is a bad rap reserved for fur that doesn't extend to leather or not. I feel differently about fur than I do about leather. Probably because I eat meat. I don't know precisely how much we are using leathers from animals that are killed just for their leather, so I know I shouldn't believe in my feeling without reflections. Actually, now I think I should know more about the fact. Thank you, for making me consider it, Reana. Thank you for the words on my jacket too!
DeleteI know what you mean - I've had mixed feelings about sewing fake fur (even VERY fake fur in a kid's costume) because it might look like fur, and that might tell other people I think it's OK to wear fur, whereas I don't know what I think! I sort of think if we eat meat, we should be doing something with the animal hides, but I guess often different animals are used for meat vs fur? And then I also wonder if vintage furs should be thought of differently - I don't think they should be thrown out, but if someone keeps them shouldn't they use them? Hmm... Anyway, your jacket looks lovely and hopefully it's fake enough looking to prevent anyone attacking you!
ReplyDeleteHi Gabrielle, thank you for your comment. I can relate to you very much. What I can tell with confidence is it is a very difficult matter to draw a single line above OK and below Not OK even to one person. And then we can't make others think same way anyway. I hope it looks fake enough but also positively pretty too :)
DeleteI enjoyed your post. I've often gone through this thought process myself, but in the end, I do love faux fur. It's fun and luscious to wear. Bohemian, slightly off center. Speaks to my off-center side. On another note, I hope your private issues resolve well. Life is defined by challenges. Thoughts are with you. Coco
ReplyDeleteThank you, Coco. I am pleased to hear that you often think of it too. It seems like I'm not the only one who sometime wonder about it, and I think that's a good sign of all, don't you think?
DeleteThank you for your kind words on my private issues too. Hope you're going to have a great year in 2015.
Looooove this!
ReplyDeleteSSB https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees
Thank you, Sassy!
DeleteThank you for your post. I feel that part of our desire to sew and wear (faux) fur come from how snuggly and comforted we feel when we sink into the pelt, just like being with our pets, simply stroking them calms us and makes us feel warm at heart.
ReplyDeleteThis is the complete opposite to how that rude woman behaved.
I don't think anyone goes out wearing a realistic faux fur item without agonising over how other people will feel or react, I used to overcompensate and pick my events when I wore a black jacket - I adored everything about it, except the stress of constantly being worried that someone would be offended by it.
I also wish you a warm and calm 2015 with much happiness.
I adore your outfit. warm regards, Nic
Thank you, for your comment, from me too. You're right, the person didn't seem she was offended/upset by looking at my purse, but she looked as if she was happy/lightened up to get some opportunity to attack someone who she didn't respect. I didn't consider it that way at that time, but I'm a bit shocked to realize how it was like. Mmmm... she was rude after all. We couldn't have made friends anyway, haha.
DeleteThank you for your kind wishes and I wish you a great time and much happiness in 2015, too!
Yoshimi, I hope that your life settles down soon - I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing stress.
ReplyDeleteAs for faux fur... First, what a traumatic thing to experience! That would rattle me, for sure. But I have been a vegetarian since I was 18 years old - that's 37 years and counting. I have "saved" many animals by not eating them and I don't wear animal fur.
HOWEVER, I like fake fur. I don't wear it much in my climate, but I can't agree with the notion that wearing fake fur keeps real fur in demand. It's in demand by some folks, and I don't believe that fake fur will deter those who love real fur.
I LOVE your coat! Please take care!
Hi shams, thank you for your comments. I hope that I'll have more time to sit and think very calmly. I'm very good at releasing my own fear and anxiety, but I'm useless at being relaxed with problems that my significant others' are facing. Well...
DeleteI'm pleased to hear that your idea on faux fur. I knew you are vegetarian, and it has much meaning for me to know what you think. And indeed, THE "fake meats" was the thing that made me start to wonder if there might not be any point of faking the originals when avoiding them in the first place. When we were child, my sister was in need of strict diet with a medical reason and we were sometime served something called "soy-meat". It tasted, ahem, disastrous. Because it tasted no good, I strongly wondered why vegetarians were liking it while they were trying not to eat meat on the other hand. I found no point on that issue. But now I feel that life is complicated and I mustn't say anything too judgemental before knowing facts. It is difficult to speak out when I know a little but not much about the world, isn't it.
Take care of you too!
Sending lots of good wishes for you Yoshimi. I hope your current personal issues resolve soon. Sewing will always be there.
ReplyDeleteI love your coat. It looks so cosy.
I enjoy making jackets with faux fur. It's a lovely trim.
You must have a a great quality version for it to be mistaken as real fur.
Thank you, Maria! I hope time will resolve my private concerns. My sewing machine has been frozen for months. I can't believe it! Please keep showing me your inspiring projects, I'll keep catching them up and will be back in sewing, hopefully soon :)
Deleteas always, i adore your posts. and i know i'm in for a doozy when you lead with a disclaimer. how i wish to have the pleasure of meeting you one day.
ReplyDeleteyour coat is just amazing, and i'm almost done with one that was certainly inspired by peeks of yours! there's so much wonderful faux fur out there now, i don't think people will mistake it, or (god, i hope not) bark at you for wearing it. in fact i think it's a wonderful way to prove that we don't need real fur.
and i wish you anything you need in your private situation...insert heart emoticon here...
Thank you, Oona, you're always so sweet to me. I'd be so happy if I can see you in person, too!!
DeleteYou made my day by saying that my faux fur photo could inspired you for your gorgeous jacket (is it a jacket? or maybe a coat? I can't wait to see entire shape of it.) You said well too, by describing that it's a wonderful way to probe that we don't need real fur. Yes, indeed.
Take care and keep warm, sweetie!
ah.......... prove, not probe, of course.
DeleteGreat ramblings... I think the 'faux fur' debate could go around in circles forever! I think your coat is cute but these days I tend to avoid synthetic fabrics as much as possible, because the fibres will be around for hundreds of years after the garments have run their course. So there's another side to the debate!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane. As you say, there is no single concrete answer that we can access now. Also, I optimistically imagine that everybody will be agreeing with each other gradually by stepping up some kind of spiral and reaching a point we cannot think better idea on faux/real fur issue. I think I may be able to say the same thing on using synthetic polymers. Less faux fur is better for environment, I think so too, but using synthetic fibers for garments may possible be more negligible for our environment comparing the amount to the whole amount of "plastics" we throw daily in our activities too. Our life has to be sustainable by our wiser choices of living activities and we have so many things to consider in many angles. I agree with you on that.
DeleteYoshimi, I've been thinking more on the faux fur topic. This argument feels very similar to the "fake meats" discussion. Some vegetarians enjoy consuming soy bacon, soy burgers, and the like. Other vegetarians feel that it's wrong to even eat fake meats. I almost never eat these products because they are highly processed and not healthy for you, but it would be silly to believe that fake meats somehow encourage others to eat real meat...
ReplyDeleteI love your coat, I haven't thought one minute about buying real fur in seeing you coat, not at all, like Oona, it just makes me want a fake fur coat too. Now I am going to go save that load of money to go to a meet up in Japan next year. Much love and a Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteCarmen, it's nice to hear that you weren't buying real fur by looking at my coat ;) Thank you for your compliment.
DeleteI hope we will be able to see in person in the future, and if you can come to Japan let's go shopping, I mean, fabric shopping, of course!
Your coat is gorgeous and looks so warm. Like others have said I have no issues with faux fur, but am very aware of the debate that has gone on.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that you are having a stressful time, take care of yourself and do what you need to do. I would love to attend a retreat with you whenever that date arrives.
Thank you for leaving your comment, Sharon! It took some time to gather my courage to write it here because ... it just wasn't easy.
DeleteThank you for your kind words, too, I hope I'll be feeling relaxed and available for my creative side of life, I mean sewing, soon. And it would be so great to see you at the retreat! I promise things will keep updated :)
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI think if you enjoy wearing faux-fur and find it pretty (even if it's not rational in your mind), if it hasn't hurt anyone, then you should and definitely not feel bad about it.
I'm vegan. I sometimes like to eat at restaurants were they specialise in mock meat. Isn't it strange to want to eat fake meat when you're vegan? But then again, it may look like meat but it isn't. And it makes all the difference.
Same with faux fur. Ethically more sound. Except for self-righteous purse-grabbing people. What a disturbing experience!
(And I really like reading your blog.)
Hi Franchement, thank you for your comment. Your comment about mock meat is interesting. Yes, you're right, mock meat should look more or less similar to meat but it isn't, indeed. And that is the whole point. Even though faux fur and mock meat are not ideally perfect, they seem to have the perfect reason why they're here. Thank you for your kind words about my blog too!
DeleteHello Yoshimi, I am sorry that you have a lot on your plate right now . I hope that you will be able to find solace in sewing !!
ReplyDeleteAs for the faux fur . I like your coat because it doesnt look real . If it really looked like fur I would be quite uncomfortable with it . I have a coat which is silk on the outside and has a real mink lining which makes it very warm . It was given to me by and aunt and dates from the 1970s . I have often wondered what to do with it . The fur is so lovely but I also feel really bad about it . My attitude is to put the whole coat back in the cupboard and not think about it !!
My other issue is that I am rather a tall large person so wearing fur of any sort makes me look like aYeti !!
Hello mem! Thank you for your kind words. I still have very worrying things in my life but I am doing pretty fine. As for the real fur coats that are already existing around us, I feel the same as you do. I think we can't be 100%, nor 0%, anyway. You don't have to use them against your feeling either... I personally think you can put it in the cupboard and try not think about it until you really change your mind (and it seems to me that it doesn't happen) and it's OK!! ;)
DeleteMaybe we love faux fur because it reminds us of our "stuffies"...you know, the little furry toys we had as children....and it has nothing at all to do with actually wanting to wear a "fur". Stuffies made us feel loved, warm and safe. Your coat sure looks like it fits the bill!! Enjoy your coat!
ReplyDeleteHi there, thank you for the comment. Yes, you're right, maybe it doesn't need to be "fur" to make us feel warm and comfortable with the "furry" texture. It is an interesting idea and I love it. Thanks again!
DeleteWow! What a thought provoking post, thank you for making my tired brain think! I have two faux-fur jackets that I love to wear. They are very obviously fake and are incredibly warm. I don't think it is indirectly supporting the fur trade as it stands today, I see wearing faux-fur as more of a pastiche on a long-gone are when real fur was socially acceptable. I'm sorry that that woman made you feel so awkward and that you had to justify yourself. Your jacket is gorgeous and incredibly cute. xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe, thank you for leaving your comment. I decided to stop wondering about the idea that using faux fur would supportusing real fur, because of many responses that I received recently. Not many of us seem to think that it supports real fur. We just seem being worried about the possibility to be misunderstood by strangers.
DeleteThank you for your lovely words on my coat too! :))
Dear Yoshimi,
ReplyDeleteI have had the same concerns about faux fur......and about eating meat, having a monoculture grass lawn, etc. You capture my situation very clearly. So far I am enjoying the idea of faux fur (tho I don't have any myself), not eating meat and have gotten rid of the lawn. So many of us are works in progress, eh?
Thanks for sharing your sewing and your ideas,
Ceci