Old Can Be New Again

First, I feel I need to introduce this post with sharing my thoughts on fur. I know that horrible, horrible things are done to animals in the name of fashion. Things that anyone with a soul could never condone. The thing is, there is another side of that coin. Fur has a history and a heritage that is part of our culture. I come from a family of hunters who treat the animals we kill (and food we consume) with respect and as much humanity as possible. Fur and leather is part of that food web that cannot be ignored and should be treated with the same respect. I don't want my meat served to me on styrofoam or full of chemicals, I should consider that as well when I am clothing myself.

That said, my friend came to me with her Grandmother's fur coat recently. She and her mother had kept it for years and years, knowing that it would never fit them but not sure what to do with it. Her Grandmother had loved her coat so much and it was important to her, to discard that seemed disrespectful. So she asked if I could make it into pillows so that it could be out, used and enjoyed. I thought that was a great idea.

I've never really worked in fur before but why not. I stripped down the coat, wow, things just aren't made like that anymore. It's interesting to note as well that the hides were all stamped with union stamps. No offshore child labour was used here. While I was taking it apart the cuff gave up some long stored confetti, this coat had seen a good time! So the confetti was put it into one of the new pillows, no point in stopping that journey just yet. Now from that coat there are three new pillows that will be enjoyed way more than an old coat in a closet ever would be.