Fake fur, or faux fur, is designed to resemble real fur from animals such as foxes, mink or rabbits. It is made from various synthetic materials, usually polyester, acrylic or nylon, which are processed and treated to mimic the look and feel of real fur.
Fake fur can be woven, tufted, or round-knitted and then treated with heat, electricity, chemicals, or embossing to enhance its shine, lustre, colour, or texture.
The natural fur of animals has many properties to protect them (read more under fur). Characteristics a fake fur wants to mimic are mainly warmth and fluffiness. Usually, fake fur is made from oil-based materials, which means that challenges and environmental impacts lie in the microplastics released from the fur and the long degradation time of the material. The quality of fake fur is crucial, as it determines how securely the hair strands are attached to the base fabric, preventing the release and spread of fibres into the environment during use and washing.
Source
November 2024, TÄNKOM | Revised November 2024, RETHINK
