Sewing With Fur Cory Farnsworth
USU Extension Assistant Professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources - Grand County
History of Using Fur Throughout history, humans have valued fur. Garments made of fur were essential for cold-weather protection and, in many instances, replaced money to trade with others for life’s necessities (Krause, 1984). Skilled trappers and furriers were employed to clothe both the rich and the poor. Fur only began to lose popularity when wool and cotton could be produced on a greater scale. Recently, wool and cotton production has also declined due to the more economical production of materials made from petroleum, such as polyester and nylon. Fur is still widely used around the world today. In 2022, the fur industry accounted for over $2.5 billion in sales worldwide, with China, Finland, the United States, and many Asian countries remaining top consumers (TrendEconomy, 2024).
About Fur Fur is the pelt or skin of an animal tanned as leather with the hair intact. Animals that produce fur are called furbearers. These can include predators like coyotes and herbivores such as beavers and muskrats. Originally, hunters and trappers primarily harvested fur, but now fur farms produce about 50% of fur in North America and about 85% worldwide (Truth About Fur, 2022). In the early history of America, many furbearer populations declined due to overharvesting.
Figure 1. A Finished Trapper Hat Made of Skunk Pelts
Today, trapping is one of the most regulated activities worldwide and is a useful tool in managing excess populations of furbearers and struggling populations of prey animals. Fur is slowly regaining popularity as people recognize it as more ethical, humane, economical, and renewable, but the ability to use fur is becoming a lost art. It is part of our heritage as a people and connects us with the land. Learning to sew fur projects can be fun and, in some cases, quite profitable, as fur sewn into an article will sell far above the price of the pelt itself. If you normally sell fur but are discouraged by low fur prices, consider making something out of your catch.
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