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Vegetarian fashion-designer Stella McCartney launches the world’s first faux-fur made using plant-based ingredients.
Sustainable vegetarian fashion designer Stella McCartney has launched the world’s first faux-fur made using plant-based ingredients.
Keen to provide those looking for ethical alternatives to fur and faux to snuggle up in this winter, Stella McCartney has created an animal-free alternative that is better for both animals and the planet than traditional faux furs made from plastic.
The designer is using a brand new material, KOBA® Fur-Free Fur, to create new designs. KOBA faux fur by ECOPEL, a global faux fur textile and apparel manufacturer which creates “high-end faux fur” for more than 300 top fashion brands, is made with recycled polyester and up to 100 percent DuPont™ Sorona® plant-based fibres.
The innovative new material is a great eco-friendly option as it consumes up to 30 percent less energy and produces up to 63 percent less greenhouse gas than traditional synthetic materials. It can also be recycled at the end of its long life to ensure it closes the fashion loop and doesn’t end up as waste.
In a statement, Stella McCartney said: “I am incredibly excited about this new eco-friendly, bio- based Fur-Free Fur. It is another big step toward the future of fashion being sustainable and animal free.”
Renee Henze, global marketing director, DuPont Biomaterials added: “Stella McCartney has led the industry that is now increasingly moving away from the use of animal-based furs, and this collaboration allows both her cruelty-free and sustainability values to go hand in hand.
“With KOBA faux fur, we expect to see the use of bio-based materials gain even greater use and acceptance in the textile and fashion industry.”
The KOBA Fur-Free Fur will be developed as part of the Stella McCartney Collections from 2020.
Falling out of fashion
Fur has been rapidly falling out of fashion with designers in recent years with big brands such as Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, Gucci, Michael Kors, Versace, Burberry, Donna Karan, Coach, Chanel, Jean Paul Gautier and Jimmy Choo all turning their backs on fur.
However, a number of designers are still selling animal fur in the UK, including Fendi, Max Mara, Celine, Valentino, Saint Laurent and Dolce & Gabbana.
Fashion retailer Boohoo was also recently given a warning by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) after it was found to be advertising a jumper containing real fur that was marketed as faux.
