That Faux Fur You're Wearing May Not Be So Faux After All

There are lots of fashionable people these days who draw the line at wearing real fur. That's why the stores carry lots of coats, jackets and other items trimmed with fake fur. But is it really fake?  Maybe not.

"You really can't go by feel or color," says Beverly Kaskey of the Humane Society of the United States.  Kaskey added that The Humane Society has uncovered many cases of false labeling of animal fur in stores nationwide.

San Francisco television station KNTV went shopping with an investigator from the Humane Society and found item after item containing real fur being sold as fake.

"Raccoon dog is the most commonly misrepresented type of fur on the market," says Pierre Grzybowski of The Humane Society. "We've seen footage of raccoon dogs being literally skinned alive." 

The Humane Society claims it has video of the small, furry Raccoon dogs caged in terrible conditions.

How can clothing manufactures get away with this? There is a loophole in the federal law that requires items to be labeled as real fur if the cost of the item exceeds $150. However, clothing items with fur trim can sell for way less than that.

Is there a way to tell if the fur item is real or fake?  Simply, part the fur to the side and examine the base. If it's smooth and looks like skin or hide, it's likely real. If it looks like fabric, it's probably fake.

Another point to examine to see if the fur is real is whether the tips of the hair taper at the ends like that of a cat's whisker.  If they do, there is a good chance your faux fur isn't so faux. 

On March 18th, consumers will get some help from the Federal Government as a new  law goes into effect that requires all real fur, no matter the value, to be labeled as such.  But, until then, don't just assume that the fake fur is actually fake especially if you are buying an item under $150.

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