Cree McCree, a New Orleans environmentalist and designer has designed a line of nutria clothing dubbed Righteous Fur. Her aim was to create a fashion trend using the bane of the wetlands, nutria. Create a demand and the market will take over, helping to keep the marsh grass chomping swamp rats under control.
Her first fashion shows were in New Orleans and Thibodaux. That was a few years ago. This week, she hit the runways of New York. A fashion Nutria-palooza will take place at the House of Yes, an art space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Sunday.
Sponsored by the is the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation, the show is as much an environmental education opportunity as it is a fashion statement. For the fur-phobic, nutria, says McCree is a guilt free way to go.
And nutria fur is making inroads. According to the New York Times, designers like Billy Reid, Michael Kors and Oscar de la Renta have incorporated nutria lining or trim in recent collections.
It’s a start. Now if we could only persuade Rachael Ray to come up with a nutria spaghetti sauce, we’d save the wetlands for sure.
... written by Marsha Miller , November 18, 2010 - 08:13 pm
Twenty-five years ago I was in Antwerp, Belgium, sight-seeing for the day. While passing an upscale furriers, I spotted one of the most beautiful fur coats I had ever seen. Not recognizing the type of fur, I entered the shop to get a closer look and to inquire about the gorgeous creation. Imagine my surprise when I was informed the fur was nutria!! I don't know the origin of the fur as I did not check on that point of information, however, the overall coat had a silvery sheen and was simply spectacular. Haven't seen one since, but I think a vest in that fur would be great for our weather.
... written by Chris Midas , November 21, 2010 - 05:44 pm
Calling "an environmentalist" someone who kills animals to make coats out of their fur and necklaces out of their teeth is plain sick. There is no such thing as "righteous fur" as there is no such thing as "righteous murder". But to justify their product the above mentioned designers would resort to anything. The real swamp rats that we need to get rid off are not the nutrias, but all of the above mentioned murderers, who, if they could, would skin off their own mothers to make a new, environmentally friendly fashion line. It's all about making the buck, right?
... written by Chris Midas , November 21, 2010 - 08:27 pm
Thank you for being a truly independent media and publishing my opinion!
... written by P. Thornton , November 22, 2010 - 08:31 am
I am very disturbed that anyone could possibly think nutria fur is "guilt free". Anyone involved in this "fashion" trend should be forced to witness the cruel trappings of these animals. I am furious that these fashion shows are being promoted on Facebook as a "cool" event to attend. We don't have to slaughter these animals in order to save the wetlands of Louisiana.Shame on anyone who is involved in this cruelty on any level.Are we going BACKWARDS,people????
... written by P. Thornton , November 22, 2010 - 08:36 am
I am very disturbed that anyone could possibly think nutria fur is "guilt free".Those involved in this new "fashion" trend should be forced to witness these poor animals being caught in these inhumane traps! Are we going BACKWARDS,people? There must be another way to deal with saving the wetlands. Shame on all of you who think attending a fashion show featuring this fur is "cool".
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