Can Faux Fur Replace Real Fur?

There are a lot of people today who prefer wearing faux fur (synthetic fur) instead of real fur. Their reasons are many and range from the desire to protect animals to pure economic reasons, as synthetic fur tends to be a lot cheaper than real fur. However, the question that must be raised is whether faux fur can actually substitute real fur.

Here are the main elements to consider when weighing in faux fur vs. real fur.

Artificial fur is made from several materials such as blends of acrylic and modacrylic polymers derived from coal, air, water, petroleum and limestone. Their advantage is that they are fabrics, which makes them easy to work with, but they cannot keep snow from melting and re-freezing on the fiber filaments; which is a very important aspect, especially in mountain climbing, skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities that are done in extreme weather conditions.

A piece of faux fur that is well-made has the ability to look and work like fur from a visual point of view.

Even though some fake furs can look and even feel great, they cannot have the exact look as real fur, as, given that fake fur is a synthetic material, it will not have an organic texture. Artificial fur is generally very even and lacks the dynamism that real fur has.

From an aesthetic point of view, faux fur can hold its color for a very long time and can be easily washed, which makes it a low-maintenance material.

To sum up, we can say that there are both advantages and disadvantages to wearing faux fur from an aesthetic point of view, so, in order to make a decision, you need to balance them out and see what matters to you most.

Fake fur comes these days in a wide variety of styles. Some fake furs tend to really feel and act like plastic: they are uncomfortable, cause itches, stick to your skin, etc., while other fake furs are extremely well-made, do not taper and feel quite well too.

Of course, it is always recommended to wear natural materials only: synthetic fibers don't generally go well with the human body, as they cannot breathe, they don't mold according to the wearer and they don't adapt to the environment as well as natural materials.

If you want to go for fake fur, we recommend purchasing fake fur items from brands that are more established (and that will cost more), rather than from cheaper manufacturers, who are most likely to offer low-quality faux fur.

Many people choose to only wear faux fur and never real fur in order to protect animals and save the environment. However, it needs to be said that synthetic fibers are the result of a long chemical process that can often times have a very big negative impact on the environment, therefore harming more animals along the way than the process of making clothes and accessories from real fur.

Furthermore, the materials used to make faux fur can take a long time to break down, possibly anywhere from 500 to 1,000 years, which makes them a threat to the environment. Burning such materials will also have a negative impact on the planet.

These are all important factors you should consider when you are balancing out the pros and cons of wearing real fur.

In conclusion, it can be said that obviously faux fur cannot act and have the same properties as real fur. However, technological advances have made it possible for us to create really great faux fur that you can enjoy wearing and that can look really stylish too.

Fraquoh and Franchomme

Further reading:

Can faux leather substitute real leather?

P.S. We want to hear from you! Do you like to wear faux fur? Why do you choose fake fur over real one? What items do you buy that are made from faux fur? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!