UNWANTED fur clothing is being recycled into comforters for orphaned animals, thanks to an ingenious Hilton resident and local pensioners.

Vinnies recently adopted a fur-free policy across its WA stores and needed creative ways to up-cycle donated mink and ermine clothes.

Hilton’s Ruchita Saklani suggested the fur clothing could be transformed into comfort toys and pouches for traumatised animals at FAWNA in Busselton.

Much to her delight a group of women at the Silver Chain daycare centre in Hilton volunteered to sew the comforters together, and they’re now being enjoyed by baby mammals at the not-for-profit animal shelter in the South West.

• This little fella enjoys his new fur pouch.

Suffer

“It was a fantastic community effort and a great credit to all those involved,” says Ms Saklani.

“It was nice that the fur was made into something that could benefit animals, given that animals had to suffer and lose their life to make the clothing in the first place.

“Since fur has made a comeback in the fashion world, the number of animals killed worldwide is in excess of 50 million, which makes it even more essential that thinking, compassionate people shun fur.”

According to the International Fur Trade Federation, 85 percent of furs are from animals raised in battery cages.

Mink, foxes and rabbits are the most frequently bred, but also squirrels, badgers, wallabies, possums, racoons, beavers, lynxes, coyotes, seals, otters, bears, chinchillas, martens, bobcats, dogs and cats are killed for their fur.

Following lobbying from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Perth Fashion Festival organisers announced last month there would be no animal fur on the runaway at this year’s event.

It follows the Melbourne Fashion Festival issuing a no-fur policy last year.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK