29.04.2025
Once seen as a relic of the past, real fur is making a notable return to the fashion world. This comeback is driven by a mix of cultural shifts, environmental debates, and changing style preferences. Vintage fur started slinking back into fashion in early 2024, when the “mob wife aesthetic” went viral. The look required a big fur, a French manicure and animal print.
A key factor behind the trend is the growing popularity of vintage fashion. Shoppers, especially from younger generations, are turning to secondhand fur as a sustainable alternative to faux fur, which is often made from petroleum-based materials. With increasing concern about microplastic pollution and fast fashion waste, natural and long-lasting materials like fur are being reevaluated.
From minimalism to maximalism – fur is now the ultimate power piece
Fashion is shifting away from minimalist “quiet luxury” towards bolder, statement-making styles. The return of maximalist fashion has created the perfect space for fur’s dramatic aesthetic to re-emerge.
Cultural and celebrity influence has also helped fuel the trend. High-profile appearances of fur on red carpets and social media — worn by influencers, fashion icons and celebrities like Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber— have normalized and glamorized the look for a wider audience.
Vintage fur has diminished the stigma once attached to wearing fur
Another factor behind the trend is the availability and affordability of vintage pieces. The booming secondhand market, both online and in boutiques, has made owning fur more accessible than ever, offering everything from heirloom coats to reworked designer items.
Animal rights groups have criticized the vintage fur trend, arguing that it can still promote the purchase of new fur. “If someone sees a person wearing fur and doesn’t realize it’s vintage, they might be encouraged to buy new fur,” they say.
As sustainability narratives shift and fashion tastes evolve, fur is no longer automatically seen as controversial. Perhaps most notably, the stigma once attached to wearing fur has noticeably weakened. At the moment the reality on city streets and runways is clear: fur is back in fashion.
Sources:
Evening Standard
“The Real Fur and Crocodile Skin Comeback – How Luxury Fell for the Real Thing Again”
Published February 23, 2025
Covers the fashion industry’s renewed interest in real and vintage fur, the backlash against faux fur, and shifting consumer attitudes toward sustainability and luxury aesthetics.
The Wall Street Journal
“Fashion Turned on Fur. Young Customers Want More.”
Published February 18, 2025
Reports on rising demand for vintage fur, growing secondhand sales, and how social media trends and celebrity influence are reviving interest in fur among Gen Z.
The New York Times
“What Happened to the Stigma of Wearing Fur?”
Published early 2025
Explores the fading stigma around fur, the popularity of vintage pieces, and how fur is re-emerging as a fashionable — and in some views, sustainable — choice.