fyi killing something that doesnt want to be killed is never 'humanly'

No. No they are not. Animals are euthanized properly and then set aside until their body temperature reaches a level signifying clear death before being skinned. There are numerous reasons why no fur farmer in their right mind would skin a live animal, all very, very good ones, not least of which it would be A: Dangerous, B: Much slower and C: have an extremely high risk of ruining the pelt. This is on top of being both incredibly inhumane and illegal, no-one in their right mind would commit a practice that was illegal AND damaged their profit margin. Regardless of what you think of the fur industry (I don't particularly like it myself) please think critically and properly educate yourself so you are better equipped to actually effect change.

Or humanely

how do you know its painless? Ever have it done?

No such thing as killing something humanely! What bloody planet are you from?!! FGS.

I should point out that in warm countries (ie Australia) where Merino sheep are raised for wool, they are very much harmed. The climate is such that their wool becomes maggot-infested and they end up with all kinds of infections in their skin (which is wrinkled and therefore grows more wool on the surface area). There is all kinds of damage and suffering visited on those sheep. Read about it and weep.

@joChoto yes, I'm very much aware, that's why I said sheep maintained properly on native land, like the UK where we have an extraordinary variety of sheep, bred to thrive in specific areas. Merino sheep are from South West Europe and not native to Australia or NZ. The overall welfare of that region is not as high as the UK (although there are non-mulesing farms) and yet Merino wool from those areas is crushing the wool industry elsewhere. Local economy is the way forward in my opinion, and knowing where your product comes from, how it is produced, how far it has to travel, and for what purpose.

@kathleenbarlow I think my comment makes it clear I'm not advocating for it. Just explaining that a lot of clothing production involves harm to the environment and therefore, wildlife. Wool from British sheep managed holistically is the most harmless I can think of. Cotton is produced in a monoculture way which by definition, harms the soil and disrupts the ecosystem and other clothes are plastic. Fur is cruel and is less necessary. Wool looks good from where I'm standing.

If you aren't warm enough, wear another layer! There is no excuse, not one single excuse on this planet, to wear fur.

@Chu Yue Ling Fur and leather is very much polluting as well if not one of the most polluting materials for clothing. You have to take into account that for breading the animal, many resources are used as well. Food, co2 impact of the animal, water etc. When it's killed, a process called tanning uses heavy metals and polluting chemicals to treat the skin into a usable material. So yeah, while synthetics are bad for the environment, they might be even better for it than fur ( if synthetics are recycled). Just wanted to point that out :)

@ Chu Yue Ling as a sheep farmer in the UK I can tell you that no matter how high your standards are you will still get sheep with maggots. Fly strike will affect all your sheep unless you shear them. Old breeds would lose wool naturally, most breeds now do not. I have texel and Shropshire sheep and not matter how much ecofly I use I still get flystrike. Removing the wool in summer helps but there will always be ones with problems. Although you are correct that we are able to apply more care but this is due to less land and sheep rather than our actual breeds.

In places like Siberia and other points in the far north of the world, fur is still very much needed. It keeps you warmer around your face than any synthetic could, and that is the difference between life and death of those who live there. For the vast majority of humanity, we have no reason to need fur.

The only issue with wool would be that a rather large number of people are allergic to it. But then again synthetic material is always an option.

What cruelty is done to birds to make down? I sometimes buy down, now I'm concerned.

There is just not a single real reason to kill an animal to maintain a body warm . We are suppose to protect our animals not to kill them for our comforts and stupid fashion

It's like one of the other comments said. Wearing the fur or skin of an animal is fine....provided the rest of the animal was eaten or otherwise used. Killing an animal simply for fur is such a horrid waste.