Fur has a longer history than any other material for clothing. Our prehistoric ancestors valued animals' pelts for their warmth; in the Middle Ages furs were so prized that their use was restricted by law to certain classes. Even in our days, furs remain for many people a coveted possession, signifying comfort and luxury
In 1900 a signal event was added to the history of fur in fashion. For the first time, fashion was featured in a major international exhibition. From this time fur coats and accessories began to appear regularly in the collections of the leading French fashion houses. At this time the very height of luxury was to be able to treat your sables casually, almost carelessly. In the early 1900's the motor car made its first inroads into the 'carriage trade'. Its effect on clothing was immediate and long-lasting. It called for new kind of rugged, warm furs like goat, lynx, raccoon, even sheepskin. The discovery of Canadian and North American sources had opened up vast new supplies which had met the needs of European markets from the late seventeenth century, with the Hudson's Bay Company organizing a constant flow from trappers and hunters in the wilds. By the later part of the nineteenth century, however, this was no longer sufficient to meet rising demands. Fur farms appeared to respond to that demand and to make sure that wild life was protected and not over exploited.
Today, fashion furs offer an extraordinary variety of skins, treatments, colours and styles. Fun fur pieces like fur T-shirts, fur vests and fur accessories are the choice of the younger generation. The traditional fur coat will always be a part of fashion but it's no longer the only option. Today fur fashion is at the dawn of a new golden age of creativity as the world's leading designers re-invent (yet again) the most beautiful of natural clothing materials to reflect the more casual and exuberant mood of a new millennium.
