Many, many moons ago, we wrote an article here on Haute in Texas with a few thoughts on the fur industry. My counterpart at the time, Kelly, gave some options for both synthetic and real furs and we mostly steered clear of any actual debate. I’ll be completely honest that back then and since, I have always been just neutral about the issue. I don’t own a ton of fur coats or enjoy hunting animals. But I also eat hamburgers and wear leather, so it seems to be a bit hypocritical if I say I am off-handedly anti-fur. We’ve seen another recent uptick in the amount of fur fashion on the runways, real or synthetic, and it’s undeniable that the allure of real fur is still there for most women. So I paid a visit to Morris Kaye & Sons, Texas’ largest furrier, to give the other side of the debate a chance to share their side of the story. Here is what owner Carol Glaze had to say:
Haute in Texas: Hi Carol! First of all, if someone is on the fence about real fur, what do you have to say to them?
Carol Glaze: If someone’s on the fence about real fur, we feel that people don’t understand that the majority of furs are farm raised in a very humane fashion. After the fur is harvested, the entire remnants of the animal are used for dog food, hair products, etc. Nothing is wasted. For those people interested in the environment, fur is biodegradable and causes no harm to the environment whereas faux furs , because they are man-made, will last forever in the landfill and use up two of our most precious resources…oil and water.
HIT: What’s the biggest misconception about real fur?
CG: The biggest misconception about fur is that they are heavy and all extremely expensive. Today’s fur fashions are light weight, fashionable and come in all price points.
HIT: Do you have a favorite type of fur?
CG: I LOVE all furs, all shapes, all lengths and all shades. My dad used to say, “The only fur you should fall in love with is the one walking out the door.” ????
HIT: Tell us about the toughest case of fur repair you’ve ever had to tackle?
CG: One of the hardest fur repairs that we have to conquer is when a client comes in with a sentimental fur that is several sizes too small and a rare shade. That’s where my brother, Joel Kaye, our master furrier’s expertise comes into play. Not only does he have to scour the fur industry to find several skins to match, he has to make a new pattern to the client’s new
measurements and then make the “new” garment fit perfectly. He does this consistently and it never ceases to amaze me, and of course the client.
HIT: How do you see the modern girl wearing fur?
CG: The great aspect about fur fashion today is that the modern girl can wear them often and with everything. Fur fashion today comes in all lengths, shapes and let’s not forget about the countless accessories. Fur is for everyday not just for the special occasion.
HIT: What has this business meant to you and your family?
CG: My brother and I are fourth generation furriers and therefore is in our blood and our legacy. That’s why my brother and I love what we do.
HIT: Why is giving back important to Morris Kaye & Sons?
CG: Giving back has been important to Morris Kaye & Sons for many reasons. Although I have always been involved in charities, when my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I started a non profit Cure Fur Cancer. It raised $750,000 for cancer research. We now do an event in my salon every month for a charity. I realize the more I am able to give the better I feel and more importantly the more people I am able to help.
HIT: What’s next for the industry? What’s the hot new thing?
CG: The next hot thing for Morris Kaye & Sons will be the launching of our new line “Kurvascious!” It will be the first ever full line of furs, furs and leather and trimmed garments for the plus-size woman. It’s amazing and I can’t wait for the world to see it. Besides this line: Color, color and did I say color has been big and will continue to be huge again this year.
So as we said all those year ago in our first post on fur, it’s not for us to try and convince you how to feel about real fur. But I hope you’ll see in Carol what I saw: a real passion for something that takes craftsmanship and skill. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but the least we can do is listen to both sides before coming to a conclusion. For me, I walked away from my meeting with Carol with a gifted fur flower boutonniere and a great deal of knowledge. And that’s enough for now.
XO,
A
