The animal kingdom raced to the apex of Vogue in 2024, dominating runways and streetwear alike. Cheetah print everything, fawn costumes and fur coats were seen prominently on top models worldwide. The trend quickly trickled down from high-end couture to fast fashion retailers. Fur has long been a token of wealth, a symbol of prestige and power. Clothing from the top of the food chain implies status in the cities, where primal instincts are reinterpreted as fashion statements. Queens and mob wives alike have worn fur for generations to assert their powerful nature.
Jackie Kennedy and Oleg Cassini
Known for her bold and sophisticated fashion sense, style icon Jackie Kennedy was no exception. In 1962, she made front page news when she was photographed wearing a leopard print coat: a gift from designer Oleg Cassini. The coat became an instant sensation, women scrambled to emulate the First Lady’s elegance. The demand for leopard fur skyrocketed.
So many gave their spots that the U.S. Government placed them on the endangered species list not even ten years later. Conservationists estimate that a quarter of a million leopards died in the name of fashion. Their pelts were transformed into coats, handbags and accessories for an adoring public that rarely considered the consequences.
Environmental and Ethical Impact
Cassini himself would later come to regret the role he played in this devastating trend. Initially thrilled to see his designs embraced on such a public stage, he quickly became horrified as he witnessed the environmental impact unfold before his eyes. The realization that he had indirectly contributed to a species’ near-extinction weighed heavily on him.
In the later years of his career, he attempted to atone for his actions, shifting his focus toward advocating for animal rights and promoting ethical alternatives in fashion. His remorse served as a cautionary tale about the power of influence and the unintended consequences of a fleeting trend.
Before you exchange your puffer for a fur of your own, consider who really pays for those spots. Although the industry has largely pivoted toward faux fur and synthetic leather, the symbolism of wearing these materials remains. Donning animal prints, whether real or fake, suggests an illusion of ownership over nature, a desire to drape oneself in the aesthetic of the wild without acknowledging the destruction it has historically caused. Taking Earth’s resources without considering their limitations is not just unsustainable—it is selfish. Fashion is ever-changing, but the consequences of its excesses are irreversible.
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