In Shanghai, Ecopel has launched a partially plant-based faux fur dubbed KOBA. The new material incorporates SORONA, a corn-based fiber manufactured by DuPont.
While animal fur has come under pressure from animal rights activists and fallen out of fashion with major designers, to date most faux fur options have used petroleum-based materials.
“Faux fur, and other synthetics, have the potential to be part of a closed-loop system that isn’t possible for animal-derived fabrics,” says Ecopel Communications Manager Arnaud Brunois. “Millions more animals will always have to be brought to life to keep the trade alive.”
Gucci, Michael Kors, Versace, Burberry, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Prada have all pledged to stop using fur in their collections, according to ecowarriorprincess.com.
In addition to being plant-based, KOBA uses 30% less energy to produce and emits 63% less greenhouse gases than petroleum-based faux fur. Ecopel is also working on producing faux fur from waste plastic bottles.