Fur Fashion for the Summer Months

The advent of the Origin Assured label has sparked interest amongst a whole raft of new designers, who are keen to use fur in their new creations with the assurance that it has been sustainably and responsibly farmed. This new interest and passion for fur is being showcased throughout the year in collections which show off just how versatile and exciting it can be.

Fur is not the heavy material it was once deemed to be, with clever manipulations from designers making it a fashion favourite in summer, winter, night or day. It was in 1965 when the future of fur was to be literally, re-shaped, as emerging fashion giant Fendi began a relationship with the creative force of then young designer, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld's zeal for fur fashion was harmoniously matched by the buying prowess of Fendi, bringing to the market, some of the finest furs around and this work alongside Paola Fendi over the years has inspired a new generation of fur fashion products. They invested in research and new processes that saw variations in tanning and colours, new ways to pleat and weave beside innovative cuts and original patterns, and all without compromising the intrinsic warmth or known qualities of fur.

Today, these new methods are still explored by contemporary designers to the extent where fur has become much more wearable. There are many perfect examples of this - you need only look to the latest Spring/Summer collections from Dennis Basso. His gorgeous swing coats perfectly combine the soft opulence of sable and chinchilla furs, which are woven into light, airy fabrics like nylon to create a light, glamourous silhouette which would work wonderfully with any outfit. J.Mendel, the family fashion house, used fox and tulle netting in their evening wear boleros which are available in ice blue or pearl grey, and look fabulous next to their Tibetan Lamb cardigans in blush. As Kate Moss proved, these pieces can work just as well when used to glam up daywear such as a jeans and t-shirt combo as they do as part of an evening ensemble on the catwalk.

Oscar de la Renta uses new processes and methods to recreate some classic 50s looks, but in a much more wearable way - his stoles, coats, boleros and shrugs are crafted from Chinese lamb, Barquzine sable, mink and Finn racoon and are so much lighter than their original counterparts. Helen Yarmak, meanwhile, ensures that her creations are at the forefront by combining high colour with sumptuous furs which never fail to take centre stage. While giving the impression of fullness and density, these furs are surprisingly lightweight. The bold yellows, bright turquoises and royal blues which infuse her gilets make them difficult to miss, and instantly draw attention to their fabulous cuts and colours. These pieces really do deserve all the attention they get in the fashion spotlight.

Also turning heads this season are hats: traditional cuts and styles are definitely back on the catwalks. Philip Treacy attracted worldwide attention recently with his designs for the British Royals, and although his Trapper and Cossack creations are definitely more suited to the colder months there is plenty on offer for the summer too. In practical terms, you only need to look to the Australian outback for proof that fur can be useful in hotter climes: a fur felt fedora is an essential piece of headwear down under. Fuudluxe have created fur-lined snoods which are perfect for warmer weather, and for the concert season too - in Disco Diva or Festival Flora, the denim and sequin-clad pieces are the ultimate in festival chic. As too will bags, as they go back to nature with a series of animal prints, reptile skins and fur trims that are destined to stand out from the summer crowd.