Fur goodness sake.....

I am wondering! Isn't imagining that fake fur is inappropriate the same as the belief that we shouldn't eat sausages, meatballs etc made out of quorn because it looks/reminds us too much of meat?

I hope you reassured her that no actual soft toys were harmed in the making of your fake fur hat

I wonder whether the silly woman has any pictures of animals on her walls, or wears clothes made of flowered fabric? A fake fur hat is just a three-dimensional picture of animal fur, after all.

Boheminan, there is nothing wrong with fake fur it is just a fashion fabric and is nice and warm.
Ana, sorry to have to tell you but leather is no longer a by product of the meat industry but big business in its own right. Production is a nasty business not only for the animals - mostly kept in the worst conditions in Asian countries and India - but also for the people who work in the tanneries, many of them children working with harsh chemicals and slave labour.
Please look on the PETA website. To cope with the endless demand for leather shoes, clothing, 3 piece suites and car seats these poor animals are bred in factory conditions only to be killed in the most horrific way.
Small products like gloves, phone cases etc are usually made from cat and dog skins or other small animals.
I am a strict vegetarian and have found many alternatives to leather and other animal products.
Many people don't know where these products come from or what they are made frombecause the producers try to hide the origins.
I use fake fur and imitation suede/leather to make bags and hats from. These days there is no need for real fur or leather as the imitations are so good eg breathable and waterproof. ;-)

Who said, 'Never underestimate the pleasure people get from denying pleasure to others'? Remember that whenever you encounter Puritans. In modern guise they will be condemning the partaking of alcohol, sugar, fat, butter, bacon, coffee and anything else that's nice. They will be supporting their Mrs Grundyesque admonitions in the name of science or climate change or some such other zeitgeist fad.

But they are Puritans and need pushing back.

What an interesting discussion point. What a daft person.....I wonder if she has an issue with leather footwear, leather gloves, leather handbags......all of which I have. I also have fake fur hats because I can't afford the real thing but wouldn't wear the real thing either. You shouldn't have to justify your choice of synthetic headgear.

Ha ha, fur lol opsie xx

Wear your my lovely, she probably had leather shoes on xxx

I agree with Atqui that only vegans have any platform for opposing fur, fake or otherwise. If the rude person who accosted OP in the street eats meat, fish or dairy, or wears wool or leather, uses feather bedding or any other animal product or by-product, they should keep their opinions about fur to themselves or get themselves a soapbox! Actually, soap was originally made from animal fat...

The Guards bearskins are still made of real bears' skins from Canada. Over at least the past 8 years, there have been proposals to substitute these with fake fur, not least by Stella McCartney. As late as this week Boris Johnson was quoted as backing the substitution if it 'would save a few bears'.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11411527/Boris-Johnson-open-to-false-fur-for-Queens-Guard-caps.html

I hope the girl who challenged you was a vegan

Sorry Wilma didn't read your post thoroughly.

How rude. Good for you for responding. What's wrong with fake fur- it's no different from wearing animal prints in fabric.

Interesting, lefthanded!

It would seem that most of the condemnation seems to be aimed at women - bet you haven't had any nasty comments about your hat...

I've worn a Russian Army Surplus fake-fur hat (properly called an "ushanka") for years. A martyr to "male pattern baldness", I need a warm hat in the winter months and this one - which cost me a massive £9.99 in an Army Surplus shop in Nottingham - is the warmest hat I have ever owned.

I don't see anything wrong with fake-fur. Wear yours with pride and panache!

bohemian I think what happened is awful and I'm not surprised you were upset.

I hope you don't mind me telling you that as a vegetarian I can't bring myself to wear anything that is 'animal' themed. So for me fake fur is not on, neither is any kind of animal print. The reason for this is I feel it encourages the use of animal skins in fashion. I realise I'm missing out on fashionable things, but I have bought a few things for my Mum she liked. The other year she bought a lovely animal print blouse and camisole as a surprise Christmas present for me, but it was a little tight on me at the time and now I just can't bring myself to wear it.

That said, I have never imposed my views on others and would not dream of speaking to a stranger. I think faux fur is very realistic looking these days, yet fashion designers have been using real fur again for about 10 years. If someone chooses to wear real fur for reasons of fashion, then that's their choice, but I have no respect for them. I doubt if they care, but I don't think it's right to give them the impression you think it's ok if you don't. Not when the animals die inhumanely.

I think that part of the problem with faux fur is just how realistic it can look and for someone reason there's a perception that older people choose real fur over faux. I think that's what happened to you.

Thank you all. I'm feeling better now, just don't 'do' confrontations. I was thinking of pinning a notice on the hat on the lines of the Mad Hatter, saying "I am not a dead animal" but thought people might think I was making some sort of wild statement...

I was too busy studying her face to notice if she was wearing leather shoes..all I noticed was pink spiky hair (bit like mine).

Ridiculous and very rude. I wouldn't buy a real fur hat but I bought a black fake fur one for my mum the other day.

I think she's got a damn cheek!

Yes she was rude and I agree there is nothing wrong with wearing fake fur. But playing devil's advocate, I'm glad the younger generation are still speaking out against real fur as it seems to be creeping back into respectability again since the big campaign against it in the 90's. It is a terribly cruel trade (as, indeed, is the leather industry in India for example).

I actually have a real fur hat. I think it's silver fox. I bought it in Tallin and it's lovely and warm.
I have no compunction about wearing it! I also have leather gloves that I bought there.
The leather coat is from Barcelona. All products of cruises.

The thing with leather, though, is that usually the cow is killed for its meat and the skin is just a by-product. Mink etc. are killed purely for the fur.

Tell her you left your mink coat at home!!

Flippin' heck!! Some people have got more nerve than enough. Don't let an over-zealous woman stop you wearing your hat.

Sorry merlot, I had that ready to post, the phone went, and in the meantime you said the same thing about leather shoes!

Obnoxious little madam! I wonder if she wears leather shoes? Wear your hat and tell her to get lost.