A fur vest by Harmony & Lawson. Photo: Luke Thompson
Fur is back in fashion.
The number of luxury labels across the world using faux and real fur to create their autumn/winter collections is huge and now a Perth fashion label’s real fur creations are flying off the racks.
Chanel sent models wearing full fur body suits down the catwalk, evoking images of woolly mammoths in ancient times, during their recent fall/winter show. Though the luxe label chose to use fake fur rather than the real thing.

Roberto Cavalli’s line of pelts, vests, scarves and dresses featuring fur have sent animal rights activisits aflutter, Gucci, Fendi and plenty more have favoured fur as both embellishment and the foundation of a range of pieces.
Now a Perth label Harmony & Lawson is creating garments made only of real fur, and finding the furry designs are much more popular than ever expected.
Designer Harmony Douglas said her rabbit and raccoon fur creations have proved extremely popular since she launched the label in December.

 A creation by Chanel, part of the fall/winter 2011 collection.
“The market is crying out for it,” she said.
“We are just being inundated with sales.”
No longer are Anna Wintour and J.Lo amongst a tiny minority of fashion followers who wear the real thing. 
Singer Kelly Rowland purchased a fur vest from the label during her recent visit to Perth, and models including Skye Stracke had purchased the product too. Douglas said she had customers from all over the world.
But the controversy surrounding the use of fur continues. Even those designers that do use fur, refuse to comment on their use of it.
Lisa Ho’s latest winter collection features what has been said to be rabbit fur. But ask her PR team for a comment on her use of the material and you get a quick “Lisa Ho doesn’t comment on fur” response.
But Douglas says very few people voiced concerns to her about the possibility of cruelty, though she realised that for some people fur would always remain taboo.
She sourced her furs overseas, and said government regulations meant the product was farmed like other meat products. All parts of the animals were used. The fur was certified cruelty free.
It was the luxury feel of garments made from fur that was making them popular once again, Douglas said.
“It’s the luxury of it, it's so soft, and my garments are light weight,” she said.
But not everyone in the fashion industry believes the use of real fur can be justified.
While people presume Australian luxe label Aurelio Costarella uses the material to create some of the couture looks they send down the catwalk, the designer has signed the PETA agreement against the use of fur and will never use the real thing.
“We believe you don’t need to use fur as there are so many other great materials and fabrications to utilise," Costarella brand manager Paul O’Connor said.
At the end of the day it’s about using your creativity to make a luxury product and one that is desirable to all.”