It Looks Better on Them!
On Display in the Mill Building

Written by Julia Cronin

March 9, 2023

Our ancestors wore animal furs and skins for millennia. Before we figured out how to make plant-based textiles and then create modern synthetic gear that outperforms natural materials – and comes with its drawbacks, we were entirely dependent on animal resources to stay warm and dry. Today, many people still wear leather. In the 1980s and ‘90s, exotic skins and furs fell out of favor as people embraced animal rights. This grassroots movement helped change both minds and laws. The United Kingdom banned fur farming at the beginning of the 21st century but still allows imports. In 2019, California passed a state-wide ban on manufacturing and selling new fur products. The past five years have seen major international retailers pledge to remove products made from fur or endangered species from their offerings.

However, some people still want clothing and accessories made from endangered species or animals bred in captivity and euthanized under less-than-humane conditions. As many sources of regulated trade discontinue sales, other less-regulated countries cash in on this desire. A quick Internet search demonstrates the popularity of resale vintage items and new pieces. In most cases, owning these items is unethical; in some, it is outright illegal.

The collection of exotic skin objects is on long-term loan from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Turtle Bay has had this collection since 2001, when it was featured in the snake portion of the Beauties and Beasts exhibition. Some of these objects were seized from people who had obtained them illegally, and others were donated by museums to the USFWS for educational purposes. The older objects may once have been legal or ethical to own, but they are not anymore. The furs are from Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s Permanent Collection. Unfortunately, we do not have room to display our bearskin or raccoon coats, but the 1920s coat made from the pelts of many baby harp seals is on exhibit. 

Learning about animals bred or captured for their furs or skins, how they are treated, and the environmental impact helps us make more informed choices about what we buy and wear. Turtle Bay is a great place to engage with a wide variety of wildlife. Once you have explored this exhibition, we encourage you to meet some of our animal ambassadors, such as Kalkadoon, the Ackie monitor lizard; Loki, the red fox; or Danger and Precious, the rattlesnakes. Afterward, head to the museum to learn about our local historic fur trade. 

We hope you will agree that it looks better on them!