Fur Coats!
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So the owner of the shop goes in back and comes out with an absolutely gorgeous full-length coat.
As the lady tries it on, the furrier goes up to the guy and discreetly whispers, "Ah, sir, that particular fur goes for $65,000."
"No problem I will write you a check!"
"Very good, sir." Says the shop owner. "Today is Saturday. You may come by on Monday to pick it up, after the check has cleared. So the man and the woman leave. On Monday, the fellow returns.
The storeowner is outraged: "How dare you show your face in here? There was not a single penny in your checking account!!" "I just had to come by," grinned the guy, "to thank you for the most wonderful weekend of my life!"
Fur Coats
A fur mozetta, worn by a canon, FlandersFur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals. Fur is one of the oldest forms of clothing, becoming widely used as primitive humans left Africa and entered cooler regions. Modern cultures continue to wear fur and fur trim, as dictated by fashion trends. Although it was once one of the most common forms of clothing many people consider fur a luxury item. Its continued use is controversial in some societies, such as Western Europe and the United States, on welfare and ethical grounds. The term 'a fur' is often used to refer to a fur coat, wrap, or shawl.Fur Coat History and use
Fur is generally thought to have been among the first materials used for clothing and bodily decoration. The exact date when clothes were first used is debated (see Clothes). Several species of hominoids including Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis used fur clothing.Fur or skin clothing of some form is worn in virtually every country. Furs are especially popular in colder countries due to their excellent properties of insulation. The Inuit peoples of the Arctic relied on fur for most of their clothing, and it also forms a part of traditional Russian, Scandinavian and Japanese clothing.
Today, winter clothes such as scarves and coats or coat trimmings are the garments most commonly made from fur.
Animal furs used in garments and trim may be dyed bright colors or with patterns, often to mimic exotic animal pelts: alternatively they may be left their original pattern and colour. Fur may be shorn down to imitate the feel of a soft velvet fabric, creating a fabric called shearling.
Sources of fur coats
Common animal sources (furbearer) for fur clothing and fur trimmed accessories include:fox
wolf
rabbit
mink
beaver
ermine
otter
sable
raccoon
coyote
chinchilla
seal
domestic cat
raccoon dog
domestic dog
civet cat
badger
lynx
Most fur is obtained from animals farmed specifically for the purpose, primarily mink and fox. Many animals, however, particularly beaver and seal, are hunted from the wild for their fur, meat, oil and other products. Currently in the United States, there are no federal laws regulating these industries. In some countries, primarily in Asia, domestic dogs and cats are used for fur clothing products which may be mislabled as coyote, wild dog, wolf, wild cat, or bobcat. In Canada, there are no regulations regarding the import of domestic animal hides and furs. Stores have allegedly sold raccoon dog fur-trimmed coat as being non-animal fur.
Fur Coats Processing of fur
The manufacturing of fur clothing involves obtaining animal pelts where the hair is left on the animal's processed skin. In contrast, leather made from any animal hide involves removing the fur from the skin and using only the tanned skin. The use of wool involves shearing the animal's hair from the living animal, so that the wool can be regrown. Fake fur or "faux fur" designates any synthetic material, produced from oil, that attempts to mimic the appearance and feel of real fur. The chemical treatment of fur to increase its felting quality is known as carroting, as the process tends to turn the tips of the fur a yellowish-red "carrot like" colour.A furrier is a person who makes, repairs, alters, cleans, or otherwise deals in furs of animals. Fur clothing is clothing made entirely of, or partially of, the fur of animals.
Anti fur coat campaigns
Anti-fur campaigns reached a peak in the 1980s and 1990s, with the participation of numerous celebrities.Animal rights advocates and Animal welfare activists object to the trapping and killing of wildlife, and to the confinement and killing of animals on fur farms. These groups claim that traps, in addition to being painful and non-lethal, are indiscriminate and catch many unwanted species including domestic pets. They also claim that life on fur farms is cruel because natural behaviors are restricted and methods of death may be painful or prolonged.
Environmental concerns are also cited in anti-fur campaigns. Many fur garments are heavily dyed with chemicals to alter their color. Fur farms or fur ranches also produce animal wastes and leftover carcasses that may become odorous or diseased. Escaped animals from fur farms could also affect the surrounding habitat and the gene pool of the wild population.
Some animal welfare groups have disrupted fur fashion shows with protests while others sponsor anti-fur poster contests and fashion shows featuring faux furs or other alternatives to fur clothing. These groups sponsor "Compassionate Fashion Day" on the third Saturday of August to promote their anti-fur message.
One of the most controversial areas of the fur industry is the annual seal hunt held in Canada. Many have criticized the hunt as being cruel, but defenders of the hunt and Canadian government biologists state that it is humane and sustainable. In Canada, a government survey showed two thirds of Canadians supported the seal hunt as regulated under Canadian law. Three quarters of Canadians were not opposed to the seal hunt, after being informed of these regulations. One quarter was opposed. While government regulations require that the killing of seals be conducted humanely, some seal hunters have been accused of not following these regulations.
Products from all marine mammals, even from abundant populations and regulated hunts, such as the Canadian seal hunt, are banned in the United States.
