Faux fur refers to fur-like clothing material made out of synthetic fibers. It is also called fake fur and fun fur. Faux fur was developed in 1929. It was only made commercially available in the 1950s. It increased in popularity when it was promoted as an animal-friendly fur alternative by animal welfare groups.
Faux fur has several advantages and disadvantages. Since it is not an animal byproduct, it discourages animal farms, and the energy requirements and wastes associated with these fur farms. It is also easier to design and sew into clothes. Maintenance is simpler too as faux fur is not affected by moths and does not require cold storage. Disadvantages concern the fabric being unnatural. It includes modacrylic and acrylic blends that come from coal, petroleum and limestone. These blends take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.
