For decades, real fur symbolized glamour, wealth, and high fashion, especially in Hollywood. But in 2025, that image is rapidly unraveling.

This fall, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced that beginning in September 2026, real animal fur will be banned from all CFDA-supported New York Fashion Week runways. The decision reflects growing awareness of animal cruelty in fur farming and a clear shift in consumer values toward more humane, sustainable fashion.

In December 2024, the death of a fur farmer in Ashtabula County, Ohio, exposed a horrific animal welfare crisis at an unregulated fur and urine farm. Over 400 wild animals, including foxes, coyotes, and skunks, were found trapped in inhumane conditions, bred for fur and bodily waste, with no government oversight due to Ohio's inadequate laws.

A new study points to persistent risks posed by the animal fur trade.