Fabric Definitions — definitions of fabrics, cloths, laces and textile materials from Apparel Search
Fake fur, fun fur or faux fur is any material designed to resemble fur, normally as part of a piece of clothing. Typically it is made of synthetic fibers. It does not require animal products and often costs less than its counterpart; it is also used in purses, bags and many other objects, and very commonly for toys such as teddy bears and for home decorations like pillows.
Fake fur, fun fur, or faux fur is any material designed to resemble fur, normally as part of a piece of clothing and is internationally recognized as the 'animal friendly' approach to fur fashion. Faux fur has received praise and recognition from a string of animal rights and welfare organizations and has inspired many notable individuals including Natalie Portman and high-fashion design labels such as Ralph Lauren and Marc Bouwer to promote the use of animal friendly products in their collections.
It is also used in purses, bags, and many other objects. Typically it is made of synthetic fibers. It does not require animal products and often costs less than its counterpart. However, it has a few disadvantages compared to fur: it does not hold in as much warmth as true fur and may shed. Currently, there are no synthetic materials that have been able to keep snow from melting and re-freezing on the fur's fiber filaments; this is very important especially in hiking, mountain climbing, skiing and other outdoor activities which are done in extreme conditions.
Not all fake fur is used in clothing. Faux fur is very commonly used to make toys (especially teddy bears and other stuffed animals) and home decorations like pillows. It is also sometimes used for craft projects because it can be sewn on a sewing machine (real fur is generally better quality but requires a special machine or hand sewing; also, an awl may be required to sew it).
Lately, there have been many uses of this brand of fur in main stream teen fashion. The stores Abercrombie and Fitch, and American Eagle both use this in their clothing such as in their Trapper Hats and Sweaters.
The introduction and rising popularity of faux fur is in sole promotion of animal rights, offered as an animal-friendly alternative to real fur, a process in which animals including Mink, Fox, Rabbit, Bear, Chinchilla and often Domestic Cat and dog are raised for fur, often killed using methods considered cruel and inhumane by animal lovers and environmental activists such as PETA , Natalie Portman, Pamela Anderson and Tyra Banks.
Steve-O
Jay Hernandez
Joaquin Phoenix
Victoria Beckham and David Beckham
Holly Madison
Christina Ricci
David Boreanaz
Danielle Alonso
Ellie Lawson
Carey Hart
Sophie Monk
Learn some reasons why to use fake fur in fashion at the PETA website.
|
|
| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fake_fur). Modified by Apparel Search 1/24/08 |
| Fashion Industry |
A Pile Fabric Engineered to Imitate a PeltFake fur is a textile construction, and judging it as one gives clearer answers than judging it as an imitation. A knitted or woven backing carries a dense pile; fiber blends, pile lengths and finishing steps — shearing to an even height, tip-dyeing for a two-tone effect, heat-setting for shine — produce the resemblance to mink, fox or rabbit, or the fantasy fun-fur effects that no animal supplies. Quality in faux fur is therefore measurable in textile terms: pile density, backing stability, resistance to shedding and matting, and how the pile recovers after compression. Inexpensive craft grades shed and crush quickly; fashion grades hold a convincing surface through a garment's life. The material should be specified like any other pile fabric, by fiber, pile height and backing, rather than by the animal named on the label. Sewing and Care FactsFaux fur sews differently from flat cloth, and the differences are practical. Pile is cut from the back with a blade so the long fibers at the edge are not sheared off; seams are sewn with the pile brushed inward and the stray fibers picked out of the seam line afterward; pattern pieces are laid in one pile direction, as with velvet. Care follows the synthetic fiber content: most faux fur is cleaned gently and kept away from high heat, which can frizz or melt the pile tips — the damage is permanent, unlike a crushed natural pile that can be steamed back. Stored hung or loosely folded, brushed occasionally, a good faux fur garment keeps its surface for years; stored compressed under heat, it mats. Those handling facts, plus its lower typical cost, are the grounded basis on which makers choose it. Common QuestionsWhat is fake fur made of?Typically synthetic fibers — acrylic and modacrylic pile yarns knitted or woven into a fabric backing and sheared and finished to imitate the look and hand of a fur pelt. Construction quality varies widely, from short craft fun fur to long-pile fashion fabrics graded to imitate specific furs. How does fake fur compare with real fur as a material?It often costs less and can be sewn on a sewing machine, where real fur generally needs a special machine or hand sewing and sometimes an awl. Against that, faux fur does not hold in as much warmth as true fur and may shed, and no synthetic material has matched fur's behavior in keeping snow from melting and re-freezing on the filaments — a performance point that matters in extreme outdoor use. Where is fake fur used besides clothing?Widely: purses and bags, toys — especially teddy bears and other stuffed animals — home decorations such as pillows and throws, and craft projects. In mainstream fashion it has been used in items such as trapper hats and sweater trims by retailers including Abercrombie and Fitch and American Eagle. More to Explore
More from Apparel Search: Fabric Definitions | Clothing Industry Glossary | Fashion Terms | Apparel Search Home
|