Fur is back in fashion, and debate ensues

The streets of New York and the front rows of Fashion Week are seeing a resurgence of a taboo staple: real fur.

However, the modern conversation has shifted away from new luxury toward the ethics of vintage and inherited pieces.

As frigid temperatures hit NYC and other parts of the US, fashion insiders are debating whether wearing your grandmother’s fur coat is a sustainable act of recycling or a problematic reinforcement of animal cruelty and excess wealth.

Proponents argue that rescuing heirlooms from cold storage is more eco-friendly than purchasing fast-fashion alternatives.

Animal rights advocates remain wary, arguing that the popularity of imitation and vintage pieces only heightens global demand for materials they believe should be phased out entirely.

Just last December, following London’s similar move, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced a total ban on animal fur at New York Fashion Week. It starts in September 2026.

However, the viral emergence of the “mob wife” aesthetic on TikTok has spiked interest in fur, real or fake. Several celebrities, including Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Taylor Swift, have been frequently photographed in oversized fluffy coats.

The trend, embraced heavily by Gen Z, celebrates maximalism, volume, and the bold silhouettes historically associated with vintage luxury.