Is it eco-friendly fashion or greenwashing? That depends how one defines fur, being green and couture. Finally, luxuriant seekers have a plausible excuse to buy fur: Paihamu.  A new line of warming fashion accesories presents fur lovers with the opportunity to fire back at animal cruelty advocates--that "it's all about saving the planet, or actually New Zealand's eco-system." Or, is it?

On the other side of the globe, many consider a rodent like critter to be an invasive species.  Dating as far back as the 1800s, Paihamus were exported from Australia to New Zealand to pioneer a new fur trade.  It was not long before the proliferation of the Paihamu population outnumbered New Zealanders 17 to 1. 

Appropriately named, by the Maori, the country's indigenous population, the translation of Paihamu means excellent (pai) forager, (hamu). [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Brushtail_Possum.]  Today, the Paihamu also dubbed as an Australian Brush tail possum, poses a chronic detriment to other wild life.  The problem is that these nocturnal creatures have a voracious appetite. On any given night, Paihamus are known to eat the equivalency of 20,000 tons of vegetation.

Using the same entrepreneurial spirit that brought the Paihamu to New Zealand, Wild Wool , a Portland-based retailer, revealed a new line of gloves, scarves and throws spun with the Paihamu fur, and blended with merino wool. The new collection has a silky-softness that feels like cashmere. 

Despite the aesthetics and soft qualities of these warming accessories, is it really eco-fashion or greenwashing? When one considers the size of the carbon footprint it takes to transport a pesky critter, darned into a hat, scarves and gloves, wouldn’t be more cost effective and environmentally conducive to exploit America's homegrown rodents, racoons and deer to clean up our eco-system? 

To check out these luxurious yet affordably priced accessories, please click: Wild-wool.com

tags: eco-friendly fashion, eco-fashion, wild-wool, paihamu, 

Holly Bentz (c) 2009 fruitionmedia.net