March 2019 • We Are Fur

ALESSANDRA DAGNINO: FURS ITALIAN FIGHTER

March 29, 2019

Alessandra opens up... I studied History and International Relations at the same time as working at the university. I began writing articles as a freelance journalist, and it was through this role that I first encountered the fur trade and well, the rest is history! When it comes to fur, Italy is in a unique situation, firstly, do you agree, and secondly, would you like to expand on this? In Italy, we are an association that is home to the entire supply chain. We are...

FUR FUTURES PROFILE – DONG WANG

March 28, 2019

IFF's Fur Futures Bursary has helped many young designers around the world take part in REMIX, the international fur and fashion design competition hosted by IFF and supported by Vogue Talents. Our latest Fur Futures success story comes from Chinese designer Dong Wang who secured the much-coveted REMIX Saga Furs Award at REMIX 2019, this is Dong's story... First of all, I want to start off by saying I feel very proud that I was chosen to take part in REMIX, it's an amazing competition....

Furriery – a profession with tradition

March 27, 2019

Technology is evolving at a fast pace and everything is becoming automatic. We have self-driving cars, we use vending machines, instead of buying items directly from a shop, and we use self-checkout systems as an alternative to the traditional cashier-staffed checkout. All these changes have a major impact on the labor market, because people are being replaced by machines. Many occupations are disappearing and because of this, professions which require handcraft and expertise are becoming extinct. In the fabrication process of jewels, there are automatic tools...

BROOKE TIPPETT: THE FUTURE OF FUR

March 22, 2019

Growing up on a farm, Brooke quickly became accustom to the production processes in animal industries. From a young age, Brooke appreciated the natural resources the animal industries have given mankind for millennia, and it is for this reason she designs and creates with respect when using fur and other natural fabrics. In fact, Brooke confesses… the more I researched fur and began to work with furriers on the production of garments, the more I understood the inner workings of the industry – especially the...

When the public opinion becomes more important than ethics: The truth behind activist’s publicity stunts

March 20, 2019

We live in a time where fake news and click baits are overtaking the media, where it misleads people for one’s own benefit, and because of this, it is becoming harder and harder to distinguish whether a subject is legit or a hoax. Information is coming out fast, so fast that no one has the time or intention to double check nor to analyze its truth, as nowadays jumping to conclusions is easier than checking the source of a specific story. Headline-grabbing tactics usually involve...

FUR FUTURES PROFILE – LONG CHEN

March 20, 2019

Following the success of REMIX 2019 comes another success story from Chinese designer Long Chen. A young and passionate designer, Long has achieved much over the last few years, and with the help of IFF's bursary, he has gone on to achieve more. This is Long Chen's story... Hello everyone, I am Long Chen, a fashion designer from China. After winning the REMIX Asian Fur Design Competition in Korea in October 2018, I was honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the final of...

FUR FUTURES PROFILE – ANNA NAWROCKA

March 15, 2019

Our first Fur Futures success story of 2019 comes from Anna Nawrocka from Poland. After joining the International Fur Federation (IFF) Fur Futures programme, Anna was excited to join a group of likeminded individuals. And after applying for a bursary from IFF, Anna was able to create with fur and apply to be a part of IFF’s REMIX Fur design competition supported by Vogue Talents. This is Anna’s story… Thanks to the grant I received from IFF, the support from Polish Fur Federation and Nutrex Leather Trade...

LUMIN YAO: A GRASSROOTS POWERHOUSE

March 15, 2019

After graduating from the Schulich School of Business, York University in Toronto, Canada, Lumin joined an internship program set up by the Canadian Government’s International Business and Foreign Trade Ministry. The Ministry was working with Canada China Business Council (CCBC) in China, of which North American Fur Auctions (NAFA) was a member – this was Lumin’s gateway into the fur trade. Lumin describes her entrance into the fur trade as the “perfect accident”, but sixteen years later, this accident can only be described as the...

Ethics and Aesthetics: The Real Debate about Fake Fur

March 13, 2019

The debate around fur seems to be endless. We are on the side of fur supporters who believe that fur is sustainable. Today, in an era where plastic waste is rife, the fur industry is becoming more regulated and integrated with animal welfare, namely because of the FurMark certifications. But in all this endless debate surrounding ethics and sustainability, we are losing sight of one thing: aesthetics. But let’s face it. Fur is fashionable - it looks and feels good too. Fur has always been a...

SANDY BLYE: A FUR TRADE MULTIHYPHENATE

March 8, 2019

Like me, I’m sure many of you have crossed paths with Sandy throughout the years. Wearing many hats and with her fingers in all the fur trade’s pies, Sandy juggles so many different ventures, it’s difficult to pin-point her influence and knowledge as it is so huge. From my first day working in the industry, I felt a strong connection not just to fur but also to the members of the industry. So many of the companies are family-run, multi-generational businesses. Coming from my own close-knit family,...

CATALYST FOR SUCCESS

March 6, 2019

While highlighting fur as a sustainable and a modern versatile fashion material, REMIX 2019 also shines a light on emerging designers – and serves as a “career launch pad.” Download PDF

Milan Fashion Week + Paris Fashion Week Roundup

March 5, 2019

Fur is taking fashion weeks by storm as usual, and Milan & Paris Fashion Weeks are no different. Similar fur silhouettes were showcased and paraded down the world’s most opulent runways, and distinctive, sophisticated and chic furs took centre-stage. Not only did the six fashion houses that are discussed use fur, other major fashion houses did too, and included the same amount of creativeness and design… these six just caught my eye the most. Milan Fashion Week Fendi: Two days before Karl Lagerfeld’s passing, he...

REMIX 2019: Reimagining Fur in Fashion

March 1, 2019

Milan Fashion Week is always a pleasure, but on February 24th, the Fur Guru had a ticket to the presentation of the season: REMIX! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1whLgKc6FA REMIX 2019 Official Video 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 a low key life), I sipped my welcome drinks and nibbled on my canapés while touring the fashion exhibition, navigating the exposed concrete pillars at...

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