There’s nothing quite like fur, in fashion. It adds an element of glamour that can’t be replaced with any other material.

Because it’s not just about how fur looks, it’s also the way it feels. Like a soft hug on a winter’s day. The ultimate comfort within luxury.

While fur has been celebrated throughout history as a high fashion element and worn among society’s elite, today it’s a lot more accessible and sustainable.

Thankfully, we’ve become a lot more environmentally conscious when it comes to fashion. Our most respected brands today are dedicating their time and skills towards ethical practices, which includes the ethical treatment of animals and therefore fur.

Fur might be trending right now, but there’s more high quality faux fur on the market than ever before. This means you can invest in something lush without doing harm to the environment.

A great example of this is cult brand Kitten D’Amour. Using faux fur in a number of garments, to harness their vintage Parisian-inspired aesthetic, they’ve mastered the art of faux fur that feels so indulgent, it almost feels real.

“At Kitten D’Amour we are animal obsessed and we could never do anything to harm any furry creature of any kind,” said founder and head designer of Kitten D’Amour, Alana Smith.

“Faux fur is an excellent alternative to real fur. It provides the same luxurious appearance and soft texture without causing harm to animals. When manufactured with high-quality materials and craftsmanship, faux fur can be virtually indistinguishable from real fur.”

When it comes to shopping ethically, it seems a no-brainer to go for faux fur. But how can you tell when the faux fur is good quality? Will it last as long as real fur? Keep you as warm? Look as glamorous?

Below, we break down the four main ways to look for high-quality faux fur in fashion.

A soft and luxurious feel

The tactile experience is crucial for faux fur.

Good faux fur should be incredibly soft to the touch, just like real fur. When you run your fingers through it, it should feel luxurious and comfortable against the skin.

“Nestling into a faux fur design should feel like being enveloped in warmth and comfort,” said Smith.

Durability

Good quality faux fur is built to last.

“A well-crafted faux fur will maintain its appearance and not lose too many fibres through routine spot cleaning or brushing,” said Smith.

“Plus, you won’t leave a trail of fur in your wake.”

When shopping for faux fur that will last, you can check the base fabric. It should be well-constructed, tightly woven and if you give it a little tug, it should stay intact.

Realistic appearance

Is it really faux fur? This is an integral question to ask when shopping for high quality faux fur for two reasons:

1. It might not be faux! “As strange as it may seem, real fur is often mislabelled as faux. To be sure, check the base fabric of your fur. Faux fur will have a fabric base, whereas real fur has a leatherier base,” said Smith.
2. If it looks real but is fake, that’s often a sign of good quality. It’s also what you should be looking for aesthetically. You want to get as close to the real thing as possible, without harming animals in the process.

Shopping reputable brands

The internet has given us trust issues, especially when it comes to online shopping. But shopping with reputable brands, such as Kitten D’Amour, as well as well-known designers that use faux fur or even companies that specialise in it (like Melbourne-based Unreal Fur), will guarantee you’re getting the high-quality faux fur experience.

“We take great pride in creating ethically conscious designs which include high-quality faux fur, along with a variety of other materials and textures,” said Smith.

“With our small-production and careful designs, you can always be guaranteed a high-quality garment from us.”

Shop Kitten D’Amour’s latest collection here. If faux fur is really what you’re after, you should check out the ‘Sherlock’ Collar Coat