Feathers of elegance…the fashion battle between beauty and morals

In recent European fashion weeks, a question was raised that sparked widespread controversy: “When will fashion houses completely abandon bird feathers?”

Feathers, which have long been associated with luxury and sophistication, have now become a controversial material, after voices rose calling for the cessation of its real use in the fashion industry due to the suffering of birds and the negative environmental impact.

A number of cities, such as Berlin, Amsterdam and Melbourne, have completely banned the use of feathers in their shows, while the major fashion capitals – Paris, Milan, New York and London – still allow it under economic justifications, as some houses say they do not have the financial capacity to develop sustainable alternatives.

Animal rights advocates are calling for the adoption of vegan and artificial alternatives that give fashion the same luxury without cruelty, and they believe that the time has come to enact strict laws that force international brands to change.

British designer Stella McCartney was one of the first to call for an end to the use of feathers, stressing that more than 3.4 billion birds are killed or whose feathers are plucked alive every year to meet the demand of the fashion industry, describing this as a “crime of luxury.”

Historically, feathers began to be used in fashion centuries ago as a symbol of elegance and strength, and have decorated hats and dresses since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Despite the criticism, feathers still maintain their visual charm and artistic presence in fashion shows, and return from time to time to decorate fashion platforms with their cheerful colors.

With each new display, the question remains: Can the world preserve the beauty of feathers without harming the birds?
Perhaps the future of fashion is in hands that know how to create painless elegance.