Recent scientific findings confirmed what designers and consumers already knew - that in the battle between natural and man-made fabrics to keep us warm and comfortable, natural fur is the best.

A recent study compared a faux-fur coat with two natural furs: coyote and mink. The natural fur coats were far more insulating at all temperatures than the faux-fur, and also had the advantage of allowing the wearer’s skin to breathe, in the same way leather does. Natural fur is softer, warmer and more wearable than any faux fur and much better for the skin of the wearer.

Further to the call by Japanese designer Che Imai for young women to wear real fur for the sake of their skins, Reuters may be interested to know that this was confirmed by scientists in a study at the Bekleidungsphysiologisches Institut Hohenstein e.V. conducted in Germany.

Across the four major fashion weeks (London, New York, Paris and Milan), fur was featured in over a hundred collections for the Autumn/Winter 07/08 season. Designers and consumers around the world know that fur is a luxury you cannot fake.