Changing Landscapes
A cartography on the luxury mink fur coat industry
[ critical and speculative design]
This project delved into the mink farming industry in Spain, focusing on the production of fur coats. It explored the different actors and environments involved in the production chain, taking a critical stance on the luxury fashion sector. The analysis was comprehensive, shedding light on the far-reaching effects of an industry that remains highly coveted despite its enduring negative impact. The proposal plays on the irony of repurposing the ghosted spaces of mink farms to reintegrate them into their environment through a hatched approach, inspired by patchwork fur coats.
The research
Taking a critical approach to the luxury fashion sector, and through a speculative lens, the project proposes a phased approach to reimagine the spaces where production took place, The project highlighted the complex and often overlooked consequences of fur production. Environmentally, it examined how the industry displaces native species and contributes to contamination. Additionally, it investigated the impact on workers, local communities, and the animals involved, emphasizing the ethical concerns of animal cruelty.
The proposal
This project uses a speculative and ironic approach to address the abandoned mink farms left after bans on real fur production. These ghosted spaces, filled with outdated machinery, cages, and materials, carry a history of cruelty. The proposal suggests dismantling the farms in phases, repurposing materials to transform the spaces into mink conservation areas. It also advocates for a gradual shift in fur coat production, playing on the concept of the "X% allure," which references the industry's obsession with 100% real fur. This transition aims to increase the percentage of synthetic fur, ultimately seeking to eliminate cruel practices. By using hatching and patchwork to repurpose both the spaces and the coats, the project invites the industry to adopt a more ethical and sustainable approach..
