Fashion Crush: Kym Canter / House of Fluff

All Images: House of Fluff

Like vegan vs real leather, the question of animal free fur vs real fur is a fierce one. However one New Yorker is very clear where she stands on the subject and she’s not shy about it. Meet Kym Canter, CEO and Founder of House of Fluff, the animal free fur brand you’ll want to wear.

The Problem With Conventional Fake Fur

We must admit we were intrigued to hear about a sustainable fake fur company. While most faux fur pieces are animal free, unless you accidentally bought cat fur on the high street but the less said about that the better, they aren’t made consciously. Polyester and acrylic have long been used to create a close alternative to real fur. However both fibres are made from chemicals derived from coal and petroleum. They then undergo questionable dying methods to get them to look authentic. And being a synthetic product, they won’t biodegrade any time soon. So far, so unattractive.

On the flip side, the fur industry would have you believe that theirs was the more ‘sustainable’ alternative. Some are created from ‘by product’ from the meat industry or the product of Government sanctioned cullings. The fur lobby passionately preaches a message of waste not want not. Unfortunately this is often untrue as fur farms are still prevalent so it’s unlikely that your coat is the best way to remember a few dozen Mink who died of natural causes. The fur industry also maintains that their product is biodegradable because it’s made from animals.

The truth however is that many furs are treated with a cocktail of chemicals to stop it from biodegrading while you wear it. Toxic chemicals like formaldehyde are regularly used. Yuk, no thanks. So whats a girl (or guy) to do? Who better to grill about the fur industry than House of Fluff Founder Kym Canter. Having worked in the luxury fashion industry for a fur label in NY, she knows all the secrets. ‘I grew up in the 70’s and it was very culturally acceptable to eat meat, love animals and wear a fur coat. It took me awhile to realise the hypocrisy of what I was doing.’ Speaking over the phone from NY, Kym went on to describe her ‘crisis of conscience’ that led to her giving up fur for good. What happened next proves to be an industry game changer.

“In the 2 years I’ve been doing this I feel it’s moved from being a conversation no one wanted have, to being the only conversation people want to have.” – Kym Canter

How is House Of Fluff Sustainable?

It wasn’t enough to simply create an animal free product, Kym wanted the company to do things better. ‘In the beginning it was important to have 2 pillars; animal welfare and sustainability,’ she explained. The company is entirely vegan, doesn’t use single use plastic and the coats all come packaged in reusable canvas bags. The products themselves are created from recycled polyester to create a super luxurious finish that’s barely discernible from a real fur. Each piece is lined with Tencel which is created from environmentally sustainable wood pulp. It’s the attention to detail that marks House of Fluff apart from it’s faux competitors.

It hasn’t been easy though. Kym remembers, ‘when we started to look for textiles, there was nothing on the market.’ She realised that the fabric she wanted wasn’t available and so she would have to develop it herself. The company has worked with a partner to design a bio based fabric Kym’s calling ‘Biofur ™’. The innovation behind the fabric is insane. It’s a mixture of recycled post consumer waste and plant based polymers, which can then be machine recycled. ‘It has always been the goal at House of Fluff to be circular and that all the recycled polyester we use can be reused until the day we no longer need to use polyester at all,’ she says.

As well as Biofur ™, House Of Fluff recently launched their first range of vegan leather pieces. For it’s sustainability, Kym chose Cactus Leather, discernable from the animal variety. Cactus doesn’t need irrigation or harmful pesticides to grow. Plus when the leaves are harvested from the leather, the plant remains, meaning the crop can continue to flourish. 

Many of the fabrics are created for her in Asia so she produces there too. This helps to limit the brand’s carbon footprint. Kym is fiercely defensive of the choice. Asian factories get a bad rap but she insists that it’s where ‘the best (sustainable fabric) developments are happening.’ Plus she’s been to her production factories and is confident of the ethical operating policies. Some pieces are also produced by hand by her small studio team in New York.

It’s not easy being a trailblazer in the fashion industry. Kym joined the party with a bang, demanding perfection, demanding more. And she’s working hard to get it. For her, it’s not just about creating a realistic, luxurious animal free fur. It’s about the company aspiring to do better and to be innovative without the usual environmental fall out. However she’s confident about the future. ‘I think there will come a time where we won’t have to say animal free or sustainable because products will all be that anyway. Progress takes time. But I think this is here to stay, the consumer wants it.’ It’s this all important change in conscious consumption that means that brands like House of Fluff can offer such a great alternative to real fur. ‘In the 2 years I’ve been doing this I feel it’s moved from being a conversation no one wanted to being only conversation people want to have,’ she ends our call with a positive message. One we can all be inspired by.