The decision by Flannels to start stocking fur is part of a wider increase in fur sales by a number of retailers across Britain. This was a battle we thought we had won 20 years ago but in fact fur is increasing in sales and has been since 2004 which in the present economic climate is amazing.

Harrods, the largest fur retailer in the UK and the site of a 15 year campaign to stop it selling fur increased the size of its fur department in 2009 and is seeing 15% year on year increases in sales.

Ewa Harkolon of the Swedish fur producers associate has identified the UK as the fastest growing market in the EU with Germany second (the French never really stopped buying fur).

Even the attitudes of people have changed, House of Fraser Group & Selfridges did a test survey where they found 62% of 16-21 year olds found the wearing of fur "acceptable". This is a massive increase on a similar survey done in 2004 where the figure was 36%.

We need to take this fight to the streets because we are very close to the large high street retailers once again becoming fur outlets

get it

Most of the increase in fur sales in the global market has come from China where sales are up about 300% since 2005 however Britain's sales are up by about 20% according to industry insiders.

It's true that several High Street chains are looking at stocking fur again but we must deal with the demand not the retailer, education of the buyer is the key.

"today fur is widely unaccepted by the British public"

I'm sorry to say that attitudes over the acceptance of fur has changed in the UK. It is among the young that I have seen the biggest changes, when I first became involved with protests against fur sales I was 20 years old and I would say that nearly everyone I knew agreed with my view however now when I talk to friends of my sister (who is 21) the support is very much less, in particular and most worryingly among young women most of who regard wearing fur as something to aspire to. In my view a lot of this influence is from the Hip-Hop community who regard fur as part of the 'uniform of achievement' that indicates financial success.

Furthermore there is a dangerous misconception among many that fur is a by-product of the meat industry and to not sell and wear it is "a waste".

Fur was all over the catwalks in February and March. Kate Moss wore pelts for Louis Vuitton in Paris. Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs, Emanuel Ungaro and many more followed suit. But for once it seems that these fur-loving fashion houses were pursuing a trend rather than setting it as newly released figures of worldwide fur sales in 2010 show that there was 8.4 per cent increase on sales the previous year.
According to figures released by the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), furs racked up £9.7billion worth of sales in 2010 - compared to £8.24billion in 2009.

For many, a reluctance to buy clothes made from pelts was a response to the perception that wearing them would be strongly disapproved of. With this perception fast disappearing, fur is one of the hottest trends for fashion-followers.
The fur industry itself has also successfully, if cynically, portrayed the idea that fur is ethical, green and even animal friendly. With an eye to the future, the industry has rebranded itself as the antithesis of High Street ‘fast fashion’.
Its campaign has clearly worked, as both everyday shoppers and fashion houses are stocking up on animal pelts.

Few expect the fashion industry to change tack - indeed the increase in sales sparked by fur's prevalence in this year's fashion shows is likely to mean next year's sales figures are even higher.
In fact, ploys by the fur trade mean a growing number of young student designers are using fur. Manufacturers are known to donate expensive pelts to fashion students in many of the country's top fashion colleges in an attempt to encourage them to use fur in their undergraduate collections, a material the students likely otherwise wouldn't be able to afford.
Not only does this have the effect of promoting fur use among the young, but it also catches inexperienced but potentially influential designers early, who may then continue using fur throughout their careers.

Andy Lenhart, International Fur Trade Federation chairman, said: 'Fur is the big fashion story of the autumn 2011-12 collections.

'Wholesale prices at the 2010-2011 winter auctions reached all-time highs so we expect an even bigger increase.'

Don't get me wrong, it is good that people are targeting the fur industry, they need to be pressured until the bitter end. But some of the comments here and on other animal rights stories just don't ring true. It is clear there are people trolling by pretending to be activists on a downer. The fur industry would love people to think fur is fashionable again, but the fact is it isn't. You always get a handful of fashion airheads who will be into it for various reasons but they are a tiny minority. I virtually never see people wearing fur in the UK.

For example, see this article about a completely fake story and comments that were planted about Bristol and Bath hunt sabs:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/12/490513.html

And look at all the trolling in the hidden comments on this article about McDonald's in Havant
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/12/490556.html?c=all#comments