"Emu Wear" by Maria Fernanda Cardoso
Emu Wear is a collection created by Colombian artist, Maria Fernanda Cardoso. Emus were at one time almost extinct in Australia due to people killing them to protect crops, for food, or for their feathers. Feathers, specifically Emu feathers are non-allergenic and versatile, which is a high demand for fashion industries. Down feathers can be stuffed into fabrics to create jackets or pillows. Tail or wing feathers can be a decorative touch to a fashion piece. Big fashion industries such as Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent have created several fashion pieces with emu feathers. Celebrities in last year's Met Gala have worn feathered pieces as well, which stirred up animal activists. The argument of using real feathers in fashion is still relevant. I was inspired by Cardoso's pieces because it showed some historical background of where she had come from and how people would use the feathers of Emu's. Cardoso's pieces have given me the idea to focus on the fashion industry usage on animals.
I have done some research on emu feathers in fashion and read some articles that farms would live pluck birds in order to ship out to fashion industries quickly. I was thinking if people in the past who mostly relied on animals had to live pluck Emus or kill them first.
"Kill to Dress" by Jo Frederiks
Since I have been focusing on animal cruelty in the fashion industry, I have found this artist who has painted a portrait of a woman wearing bodies of skinned animals. Jo Frederiks is an Australian artist who is devoted to animal activism. Due to growing up in a cattle field, Frederiks had never eaten meat and persuades art consumers to go vegan through her pieces. I feel like this art piece definitely summarizes what we do with animal skins in fashion. I'm glad there are options now to get faux fur and faux feathers. I try to find animal cruelty free beauty items as well (E.L.F, Jeffree Star makeup, and Lush items are my favorite to use). According to Jeffree Star, there are some eyeshadow palettes that used crushed bugs (called Carmine) in order to get pigment. Some lipsticks use fish scales in order to get a pearly quality. There are a lot of things that animals are used for in fashion, so do a double-check for a bunny with his ears in a heart icon for animal cruelty-free products or just ask anyone for faux choices.
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