The fur has been used from time immemorial by our ancestors for warmth and as a status symbol but it became a part of fashion not as easy as we think. That is as it grew not just a needful material to cover the body but an elegant symbol of fashion. In this article, I am going to demonstrate through how fur was introduced into the fashion domain and how it became the most desirable material in the fashion industry.
1.The First Possibility of Using Fur for Need
Fur initially served as a material that was employed by necessity in the course of the development of the first human communities. Hence, fur was used as a shield against various and severities kind of weather since the historical period even before recorded time. In the beginning, people were not only using animal pelts to protect them from cold winter, but those living in severe climate conditions. Fur was used consistently and functionally – it was useful and, therefore, necessary.Thus, at that period too, fur was regarded not only as an ornament and a material which gave warmth. Subsequently it evolved into cultural and social asset by symbolizing first and foremost wealth and authority.
2.Fur in European Royalty
Fur really gained its popularity in the European Middle Ages. Eventually only royalty and individuals of the nobility started to don fur to make a statement of their superior status. Due to the rarity of some of the furs such as ermine and sable, these furs were within the preserve of the aristocracy. From this time kings, queens and noblemen donned fur-lined clothing and this set a trend that reached out to other European nations.
3.The 20th Century: Fur’s Height in Fashion
The twentieth century engendered the basic acceptance of fur in high fashion. Chiefs of such companies as Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent included fur as an element of many of their creations that is why the material became a prestigious one. Yet the glamour that furs achieved its peak particularly in the Twenties, when movie stars male and female as well as many other ladies were seen wearing fur coats, stoles and accessories in and behind the silver screen.
3.The Shift in Perception
Fur was first in fashion for many years but by twentieth century it was increasingly threatened in the two decades of 1980 and 1990. It became a practice that animal rights activists began campaign on ethical issues of furbearing industries. People finally began to change their minds when protesters such as those from PETA started to campaign. Designers started looking for other solutions, and faux fur appeared a great ethically conscious, and stylish solution.
Conclusion
The apparels that Fur developed in the past, mirror the world’s changing culture and developments. The place that fur has gotten in fashion: From necessity, luxury to ethical controversy In its time, fur has established itself within fashion. Still, its influence is worthy of appreciation because despite occasional critic on the value of fur in the world of fashion, it has experienced an important role in the history of fashion.