We are in a different state of mind these days. Following the high-profile “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” supermodel campaign led by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and this past years recession which promoted the ‘waste not, want not’ mentality, and ‘make do’ attitude of consumers, the thought of flaunting a lavish fur coat this Fall just seems downright shameful.

Where does vintage fit into the fur debate? The rights and wrongs of wearing vintage fur coats is an ethical grey area. Recycled furs do have environmental benefits, however many die-hards feel that wearing any type of fur for fashion’s sake to some extent perpetuates a taste for wearing real fur.

Many fashion-conscious women are turning to vintage furs as a guilt-free alternative to contemporary fur. It’s also a more affordable one. Vintage fur is up to ten times cheaper than a contemporary fur coat. “Sales of vintage mink coats have rocketed,” says Annie Moss of Annie’s Vintage in North London. “Many people see vintage as an ethical choice: a guilt-free, pro-animal rights, pro-environmental way of wearing fur.”

Furriers have begun to take notice of the demand for recycled furs as well. They also recognize that many vintage coats are not considered desirable due to their unfashionable cut or shape of the garment. We are seeing more and more furriers offering alteration services along with cleaning and storage services. You can have your beloved fur coat re-designed into a more flattering piece! They can also turn your old fur coats into smaller pieces like stoles, mittens, hats, purses, etc. There are many options when it comes to wearing vintage furs or recycling it into other uses.