Furboten: The Legacy of Fur

“What is true of New York is true of all the cities in which the feminine population is determined to be à la mode, no matter what the price, the discomfort or the incongruity…Of course these slaves to a ridiculous fashion are completely ignorant of its significance. They have never heard about the fundamental cruelty and waste involved in this almost universal out-cropping of vanity. They do not know that the fur fashion has no basis in necessity; that it is not essential to health or comfort, and that in following it they are contributing directly to hideous forms of torture of dumb creatures.”

Can you guess what year the article with the above quote appeared in a women’s magazine? It’s earlier than you might think - the article was published in the September 1921 issue of The Ladies’ Home Journal. 

Fur’s role in history has been fashionable, lucrative, divisive. 16th to 17th century English royalty issued “sumptuary laws” dictating who could wear what, reserving the more exclusive furs for themselves. The North American fur trade was a response to the demand for fur and had profound economical, political, and social effects across what would become Canada and the United States. Colorado, too, felt these effects. The Cache la Poudre River, which flows through Fort Collins, was named by French trappers, meaning "Hide the Powder." 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fur garments became a symbol of status and luxury. Fur coats, stoles, and hats were popular fashion items, often showcased in local department stores and fashion boutiques. Many furriers, such as the Jonas Brothers in Denver, answered the demand for fur garments and accessories. These apparel items were frequently passed down through generations; many of us today have a mother or grandmother’s beloved mink stole tucked away that we’re not quite sure what to do with as fur is now widely viewed as problematic.

The special exhibit, Furboten: The Legacy of Fur explores these topics through pieces selected from our extensive fur collection spanning decades. Open through December 2024, it is included with general admission to the Avery House.