Alternative Uses for Fur – Guest Post by Miss Mischief

Pin it

This post was written by Miss Ashe Mischief of Dramatis Personae and originally posted here. It was inspired by the Bella Bear Company – recycled fur teddy bears post I made here on MissMalaprop.com in December 2008. Check out Dramatis Personae for Miss Mischief’s unique take on fabulous, fashionable life.

The use of fur, especially in clothing, is very controversial. We all have our own beliefs as to whether we will wear fur or not; whether we would buy fur, new or not, or perhaps only vintage.

Image by yyellowbird

I, myself, cannot wear fur; it’s a feeling I’ve had since I was a child — it just made me feel uncomfortable. One night, when going home from a night clubbing in the French Quarter, I saw an antique shop throwing away clothing because it was going out of business. In addition to a couple of amazing dresses, there was a fur coat in the pile. While I knew that I could never wear it, I couldn’t stand there and know that animals’ lives were going in to a landfill.

The coat sat in my closet for years, until I found an alternate use and home for it. More and more, I’m reading stories of young women inheriting furs, often from their recently deceased grandparents. Like me, they deal with the guilt of owning fur they will not wear but do not want to just donate or throw out.

There are alternatives though, to allowing that fur to sit in your closet while you stare at it with guilt!

♥ Bella Bear Company takes vintage furs that can be family heirlooms, and gives them new life as stuffed bears.
♥ Donate your pieces to your local theater.
♥ Donate to your local Society for Creative Anachronism group. Many SCA people (medieval reenactors) rely on historical accuracy in their costuming. Rather than have them source out new furs and pelts, donate your furs to be repurposed in to historically accurate costumes.
♥ Donate your furs to an organization like Coats for Cubs or any wildlife group. Many orphaned young and/or insecure animals can be comforted by bedding made from old furs.
♥ Thought I really dislike PETA on many aspects, their Fur is Dead program sounds good. It provides furs to needy animals, homeless people in the United States and foreign countries.

Does anyone else have any excellent resources for fur recycling beyond the above ideas? I’d love to hear them!