LOS ANGELES — Bolstered by healthy retail gains in 2014, U.S. fur retailers are positioned for another strong selling season in 2015-16.
According to the Fur Information Council of America (FICA), sales by traditional retail fur stores in the U.S. were $1.5 billion in 2014, a 7.3% increase over 2013.
If fur, fur trim and accessories sales through designer and fashion boutiques, ski/sporting goods boutiques, luxury shoe stores, department stores and online retail sites are factored in, total fur sales would be substantially higher.
“The prominence of fur in the major designer collections coupled with the expansion of fur usage in both the fashion and home accessories categories has given us much more product to offer our customers,” notes FICA Chair Marcie Rea, of Marcella Furs & Leather in Amarillo, Texas.
“Designers have really explored the creative possibilities of fur this season and we are seeing it used in ways we’ve never seen before, on everything from outerwear to ready-to-wear, shoes and bags to items for the home. Simply put, we have a broader range of product at a wider range of price points with fresh product coming in throughout the year now, and this should translate to a continued growth in sales.”
As fur has become a branding trademark for luxury apparel, designer interest has grown.
Fueled by its unique tactile and visual characteristics as well as manufacturing innovations and broad creative adaptability, nearly 500 designers presented fur in their collections for fall 2015.
According to SAGA Furs, fur appeared in a record-breaking 73% of the runway collections presented in New York, London, Milan and Paris for fall 2015/winter 2016.
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