1. The Independent – Jean Paul Gaultier going fur-free AND CEO of IFF Mark Oaten’s statement.2. The Lincolnite – Lincoln Christmas Market’s fur-free pledge.3. Beyond Fashion Magazine – The Future of Sustainable Fashion and Social Responsibility.
‘I am surprised that a brand which cares about sustainability is banning a natural product like fur. Now Prada customers will only have plastic fur as an option which is bad for the planet. I urge Prada to think again and trust its own consumers to decide if they want to buy real or fake … Continued
‘Coach statement to support sustainability by going fur free is ridiculous. How can dropping a totally natural product like fur be sustainable? They either don’t understand what sustainability means or are really just panicked by a minority of animal rights campaigners. Even though Fur makes up only 1 percent of coach operations, soon they will … Continued
‘Diane Von Furstenberg is a designer we admire hugely. Yet today, she joins the ranks of brands giving in to pressure and intimidation from groups like PETA. Their extremist views see them making outrageous statements. They veto the use of animal testing even if it could cure HIV, and have revoltingly compared the chicken food industry to the Jewish holocaust. … Continued
IFF CEO Mark Oaten was in China this week holding talks with government customs officials on trying to reduce the luxury goods tariff into china. He also spoke at meetings to launch a new farm welfare standard and discussed the development of luxury branding in China with the jade industry and brand experts.
“Screaming and yelling animal activists will not stop Michael Kors or his millions of customers from expressing their right to choose what they wear. Freedom of choice is a basic right and I find it shocking that these protestors don’t respect that. Their bullying aggressive and disturbing tactics have no place in a world where … Continued
I spotted a great article in the FT recently written by Gillian Tett, discussing the moral dilemma she faced when left a fur coat that had once belonged to her mother. After wresting with her conscience and considering a range of issues including the hypocrisy in a society that attacks the fur industry but is happy … Continued
The ‘Furcycle’ label authenticates pre-loved fur, as second-hand luxury market and conscious consumption soars. A new label to support the use of vintage and pre-loved fur has been launched by the International Fur Federation (IFF). The label called ‘Furcycle’ comes a year after ‘Furmark’ had been launched for all new fur items. As more consumers … Continued
On October 26th and 27th, The IFF, under the umbrella of Furmark®, sponsored the WWD Apparel & Retail CEO Summit, themed ‘the new future – winning in the roaring 20s’. The IFF secured a premium speaker slot on the official schedule amongst other influential and key presenters including Kim Jones, Artistic Director of Dior Men’s … Continued
The “debate” over animal welfare and sustainable fashion on fur seems endless. The fashion industry and animal protection organizations explore the balance of “seeking common ground while keeping differences” in various fashion TALKs in China every year. From October 8th to October 14th, 2021, SS22 Shanghai Fashion Week official showroom-DADASHOW with the theme of “Border”, … Continued
AS SEEN ON WWD: “The IFF said the new, QR-coded swing tags, which map the history of a fur garment, will be a ‘game changer.’” LONDON — Every fur has a tale to tell and now consumers will be able to learn the story of the items they’re purchasing via the new Furmark traceability tag, which begins … Continued
The global fur retail trade is worth $20.1bn, indicating a strong bounce back since COVID-19 pandemic, new research from the University of Copenhagen has revealed. The European fur retail trade is worth $4.8bn, even after accounting for the pandemic. Crucially, the academic study also estimates that the international fur garment trade reached its highest ever … Continued
The long-awaited upturn in the fur market is finally happening, with auctions reporting high demand and rising prices. In Denmark, Kopenhagen Fur had to extend the auction by two additional days due to very active buys and a considerable amount of request coming In the last moment. After some challenging years, the prices of mink … Continued
According to Vogue Business, “For those luxury brands that are continuing to use fur, the focus is on China, the country most important to the $22 billion worldwide fur trade. A survey of 400 high-income Chinese residents, predominantly Vogue and GQ readers, by Vogue Business and market research group Dynata, shows that demand for fur in China is likely to remain … Continued
The leader of the global fur industry has announced the bullish prospects for fur in 2021, called for clarity from the Danish Government on the ongoing mink situation, and affirmed the place of natural sustainable fashion in a post-COVID world. Mark Oaten, CEO, International Fur Federation, hit back at suggestions natural sustainable fur was going … Continued
The government in Denmark has made a decision they did not want to, but public safety must come first. Now the Danish authorities must release their research for scrutiny amongst international scientists. The Danish mink production is allowed to continue in the future, but no decisions have yet been made by the mink farmers, who … Continued
The global fur industry has launched an ambitious programme and a clear direction of travel for the industry and wider supply chain around animal welfare, environmental protection and for the people and communities that work in the sector as part of its first sustainability strategy. The strategy was launched by the International Fur Federation (IFF), … Continued
1. Vogue writer asks, ‘Am I The Only One Who Feels Guilty About Wearing Fur?’ It’s anti-fur activists that are making you feel this way.2. REMIX 2019 is upon us! Listen here to find out who the jury are, what the theme is this year, and a comment from CEO of IFF, Mark Oaten.3. We’ve … Continued
1. @wwd – Plastic Waste Fuels the Fire in Faux vs Real Fur Debate. Find out why natural fur is of course, better 😊 What CEO of IFF, Mark Oaten said during an interview in London and more on FurMark. 2. Why eco-leather, synthetic sweaters and faux leather are TRUE poison by @samantha3. @forbes lists Emerging Fashion Brands … Continued
Milan Fashion Week is always a pleasure, but on February 24th, the Fur Guru had a ticket to the presentation of the season: REMIX! Each year the International Fur Federation hosts a competition for young fashion and fur designers with the support of Vogue Talents. And after sneaking past the vip wall (the guru likes … Continued
Milan, 25 February 2019. REMIX, an international competition for young fashion and fur design talents, organised by the International Fur Federation (IFF) with the support of Vogue Talents, declared three winning designers last night during the annual award ceremony in Milan. This year, IFF asked the competition’s 10 finalists to create three fur garments that … Continued
The Fur Guru leaves 2018 wiser and resilient. Like the rest of the fur trade, the Fur Guru has much to be thankful for and much to look forward to looking to the future. So, what better way to end the year than with the words of the fur trade, starting with IFF CEO, Mark … Continued
Mark Oaten, CEO of the International Fur Federation, representing the fur trade worldwide, said: “For many years we have been proud to work with Burberry and provide them with high quality natural furs. “We understand and support their initiative to minimise waste and how they are dealing with the stock burning issue in order to … Continued
Not only is real fur continuing to make a strong showing on the catwalks, but it is also sustainable, argue Mark Oaten and Nancy Daigneault. Read more at https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/opinion/op-ed-fur-a-reality-check
Natural fur biodegrades rapidly even in landfill conditions without oxygen as opposed to fake fur which does not biodegrade at all, a new study shows. Experts from the Organic Waste Systems laboratory in Ghent, Belgium, examined how real and fake fur degrade in conditions set up to mimic closed landfill conditions, so-called anaerobic biodegradation. Commenting … Continued
An ethical and green approach was the constant thread of the 2018 edition – the fifteenth – of REMIX, the international contest for young, fashion & fur design talents organised by the International Fur Federation (IFF) with the support of Vogue Talents. At the end of Milan’s Fashion Week, Palazzo Barozzi hosted the prize-giving event … Continued
Introduction: the first GOOD4FUR certification was launched in Beijing, China. It marks that fur economic animals farming enters a new era with standardisation, process, normalisation and modernisation. On January 16th, 2018, GOOD4FUR Certified Farm press meeting was held in China National Convention Center, jointly by China Leather Industry Association (CLIA, for short) and IFF. Five … Continued
ANIMAL INSTINCTS: The International Fur Federation doesn’t waste a minute. Shortly after 1843, The Economist’s lifestyle magazine, published an interview online with Donatella Versace saying she was renouncing fur, the lobby sprang into action. In the story, which will come out in print on Friday, Versace said fur will no longer be used in her … Continued
Mark Oaten talks to WWD about the sustainability of fur and misconceptions about the fur industry.
REMIX 2018 Supported by vogue talents announce winner CHUNCHEN LIU FROM JAPAN TAKES HOME THE REMIX GOLD PRIZE Milan, February 25th, 2018. REMIX, the international fashion and fur competition organised by the International Fur Federation (IFF) and supported by Vogue Talents named its winning designers last night at its annual ceremony in Milan. This year, IFF … Continued
The international fur industry is launching a global campaign to highlight the colossal environmental damage caused by plastic based fake fur. Fake fur is often pushed by animal activist groups as the ethical alternative to real fur. But in a hard hitting campaign across all continents, the fur trade says, “It’s time to call … Continued
On January 16, 2018, “Fushion Night” fur fashion show was held in China Beijing national convention centre, as one important activity of BIFE (Beijing International Fur & Leather Products Exhibition), NAFA Cup-The 14th China International Youth Fur Fashion Design Competition & 2018 IFF REMIX Competition China Selection also announced the final result. This year’s competition … Continued
By International Fur Federation CEO, Mark Oaten Fashion brand Gucci has announced plans to go fur-free from 2018 and will instead be looking into alternatives, including fake plastic fur. Now, I’m the last person to prevent a business or individual from making up their own mind about fur and employing freedom of choice (a stance … Continued
(Press Release: London – 5th of June 2017) Driven by resurgent interest from the catwalk (e.g. London AW 17 catwalks showing fur up 8% year on year) the international fur trade has remained strong despite a predicted slow down in the Chinese luxury sector, new figures reveal. Demand from the fashion and interior design sectors … Continued
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Fur and shearling once again took centre stage across all four leading AW17 fashion weeks, with an estimated 67% of collections overall featuring the natural materials. This compares with last year’s AW collections when fur was seen in around 70% of all collections. Fur use is holding up despite pressure from animal rights organisations. From … Continued
Environmental concerns are increasingly top of mind for every business, despite Donald Trump’s denial of global warming. Leading businesses confirmed their commitment to the cause at Davos a couple of weeks ago when they launched FReSH, the Food Reform for Sustainability and Health program, under the leadership of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development … Continued
Mark Oaten, CEO of International Fur Federation writes for the Huffington Post One of the arguments most beloved of the anti-fur lobby is that faux fur is actually better for the environment than the real thing. That argument, however, is as fake as the apparel it supports. And some new research has thrown the whole … Continued
RE: Russian Fur Farming The latest article on the fur trade was, it must be said, a masterful effort in taking my comments completely out of context, stating opinion as fact, getting the most basic details wrong and, of course, referring repeatedly to my past and my private life because that has so, so much … Continued
Fur Fashion Fur and shearling made their mark across all four leading AW16 fashion weeks, with an estimated 70% of collections featuring the natural material overall. Considering that fur was also hugely prominent during the menswear AW16 collections earlier in the year, it is clear that both designers and consumers are enjoying using and wearing … Continued
Men’s Fur Trends 2016 CEO Mark Oaten speaks of Men’s fur trends 2016; “Admittedly the more whimsical animal prints and full fur garments might raise a few eyebrows, but all in all, more and more men are comfortable wearing fur, and it’s a trend you can’t ignore.” With an estimated 63% of designers incorporating fur … Continued
“Every Christmas we’re inundated with images of smiling polar bears and Santa and his elves happily putting toys together in his workshop in the Arctic Circle. But these images distract from the truth about the Arctic: it’s an incredibly tough environment to actually live in, even more so when unnecessary trade barriers are put up … Continued
The fur industry is regularly accused of skinning animals alive The most recent attack came this weekend online in the Daily Mail – a widely read publication both in the UK and globally. This time I have decided enough is enough and that now is the time to set the record straight. Here is my pledge … Continued
After a three-month selection process involving 44 delegations worldwide, a shortlist of 12 designers will be invited to the Pelota in Milan for the REMIX 2015 grand finale on 4th March where the final judging will take place based on a runway presentation. Each designer will show three looks that include fur garments and accessories as … Continued
Public Morals and Freedom of Choice: A Double Win for Common Sense Several court rulings in the last few weeks suggest those in power might have overstepped the mark when it comes to legislation on fur and the tricky issue of public morality. You can see the societal backdrop to the rulings I talk about … Continued
The Seal Ban The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was formed on the principles of free trade and non-discrimination. However, its Dispute Settlement Body recently announced that it is supporting the EU’s ban on the commercial trade in seal products, a ban that was set up on the grounds that the legislation served the ‘public moral … Continued
