The debate over fur is not a new one. In fact, animals-rights activists have been throwing red paint on those who wrap themselves in the material for years. And, pamphlets, commercials and viral videos have depicted the not so warm and fuzzy side of that beautiful jacket displayed in that storefront window. Well now, you may not see that jacket, or another one like it, in the near future. That is, if you reside in San Francisco. On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-0 in support of an ordinance that would ban the sale fur in the city.
Rules and Regulations
In becoming the first U.S city to ban fur, Supervisor Katy Tang explained the decision with this sentiment,
“More than 50 million animals are violently killed each year around the world to support the fashion industry,” Tang said. “San Francisco is a city with progressive values where we believe in the rights of all people, as well as all living things and it is not right to allow this practice to continue.”
The ban will go into effect Jan. 1, 2019 and will no longer allow the sale of fur, as well as the manufacture of fur goods. The penalty of doing so would strike fear in the hearts of any business, as the first violation will cost up to $500 per item, per day from the commencement of the ordinance, reports The Huffington Post So, if someone thinks they’re slick and tries to keep selling, they could get away with it for some time. But, if authorities find one mink stole months later, the fines will be so large they’d rather jump in the Pacific Ocean and exile themselves to Alcatraz than face the consequences.
In the understanding that this can definitely impose on well-meaning businesses, the ordinance does include a one-year amnesty ending Jan.1, 2020. If retailers can show proof of purchase before Mar. 20, 2018, then they are in the clear.
“The Future of fashion is fur-free”
This may seem like a micro-change now, but it could easily end fur as a raw material. PETA senior vice president Dan Mathews told Sourcing Journal Online, “Since designers such as Gucci, Michael Kors and Versace have all ditched fur, it’s clear that the future of fashion is fur-free.” Even so, younger generations are big purveyors of faux-fur since they came of age during wide-spread awareness of what it takes to create their real equivalents. This is information that older generations did not have access to. In addition, faux products can be almost identical to their real counterparts, making them more desirable.
So, is the future of fashion fur-free? We may have to wait and see, but if San Francisco is any indication, it looks like it just may be.