Parisian furrier Yves Salomon launches recycled fur project

By

Dominique Muret

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Mar 22, 2018

As the debate on the use of animal skins rages, forcing an increasing number of luxury labels to withdraw natural fur items, and the eco-sustainable fashion phenomenon becomes more and more influential, renowned Parisian furrier Yves Salomon is going down the recycling route. The label has recently unveiled a new capsule collection, 'Pieces', featuring fur coats made exclusively using fur offcuts and cuts from used items.

"In a world where our needs have no longer anything in common with those of our ancestors, and overconsumption is a planetary issue, our whole relationship with fur must be reassessed," said Yves Salomon in a press release. All the more so, according to the label, since habits have changed and these kinds of products are no longer handed down from generation to generation as treasured items.

Yves Salomon also underlined how the life cycle of fashion items is increasingly short, with a faster and faster turnover. "Fur coats too go out of fashion, they are no longer worn. Some are in mint condition, the product of painstaking craftsmanship, so why shouldn't we recycle them, instead of endlessly setting off new manufacturing cycles? This is why we decided to make production more efficient, launching the ‘Pieces’ collection," said Yves Salomon.

This is a long-term project, and the idea is to systematically reuse offcuts as well as available pelt or garment stocks. For the time being, the 'Pieces' collection consists of a series of fur jackets and coats created using a patchwork of cuts, from unused pelts, unsold furs and also well-kept, second-hand items.

The collection premières with eight unique, highly colourful items, priced from €4,900. For multibrand buyers, Yves Salomon also presented a selection of models in natural colours made with furs available in-house. The label said that the collection’s items can be replicated, but strictly on a commission basis, since the items can be produced in small quantities only, until stocks last.

For a few years now, Yves Salomon has also been offering a bespoke service at its Faubourg Saint Honoré atelier, where private customers can refresh or give a new lease of life to their furs, thanks to special treatments or by having them re-cut and re-styled.