Feathers in fashion have never been more popular. But are they ethical?

But even a tiny trim still incurs an animal impact say animal welfare organisations. PETA Director of Corporate Projects, Yvonne Taylor, told GLAMOUR that their investigations, “show that whenever birds are exploited in the fashion industry abuse is guaranteed. “Marabou” feathers belong not on models but on turkeys or chickens,” and claimed they endured a life of misery on cramped, filthy factory farms before being hauled off to the abattoir. She added that, “PETA entities have filmed geese and ducks being plucked alive for their feathers, despite assurances and “responsible” labels. In 2022, there is no excuse for continuing to use any sentient being’s body parts.”

As well as obvious feather embellishment on your clothing and accessories, as we head deeper into winter, don’t forget that your snuggly puffer jacket might be filled with down too. If being feather-free is important to you, then double check the components of the filling.

Down feathers are super-soft – they are the tiny feathers that grow close to the birds’ skin as an insulating layer. Unlike wing feathers, down doesn’t have sharp, stiff quills so is particularly light and warm (and ideal puffer-jacket filling.) The alternative to animal-derived filling – synthetic padding – is often made from polyester and derived from highly polluting plastic and finite oil resources. What a choice.

But there is a less impactful alternative… Pangaia is leading the way in stylish sustainability with their science-led developments created specifically for fashion use. They have developed FLWRDWN™ – a biodegradable material which is made from wildflowers, biopolymer and infused with aerogel. It could be a genius alternative to feather-filled coats (and far less impactful than synthetic options, too.)

But when it comes to feathers, it seems many shoppers still want the real deal. Arket have been using upcycled feathers, reclaimed from discarded sleeping bags and bedding products, since 2018 and Karen Millen and Coast have seen searches for feathers up 282% year on year. However, those searching for the drama of a feather-trimmed garment, might find that just as fake fur, faux leather and mock-croc are now viable options, faux-feather is becoming more accessible too. ASOS currently have 99 “faux feather” items on their site including clutch bags, skirts, dresses, blouses and PJ sets. An ASOS spokesperson shares their thinking, “We are committed to working with industry experts to support the ongoing research, development, and implementation of animal welfare standards – it isn’t acceptable for animals to suffer in the name of fashion. We’ve experienced a strong appetite for our faux-feather pieces across clothing and accessories, with particular success across our ASOS LUXE collections. We’re able to offer synthetic alternatives to feathers for looks that deliver on both style and impact.”

“Whenever I talk to people about Creatives4Change, I talk about knowledge,” says Lubomirski. “We all know where these things come from. We can’t pretend, we can’t feign ignorance anymore. We can’t say, ‘Oh, I never really knew where feathers came from.’ Or, ‘I thought they were just picked up off the floor.’ We know that’s not true. So when you have that knowledge, you are forced to make a decision.” So, what will your decision be?

Read more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton here or follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton