New York Fashion Week Held for the First Time With a Ban on Natural Fur: What Is Allowed and What Is Not

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) took place for the first time with an officially enacted ban on the fur of animals raised on farms or trapped and killed specifically for their pelts. According to Wave RBC.UA, the new rule applies to collections on the official show calendar, yet fluffy garments have not entirely disappeared from the runways: what matters is the origin of the material, not its appearance. The decision was made by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and took effect in September 2026, when brands present their spring-summer 2027 collections.

Exactly what fell under the ban

The restriction covers the fur of animals bred on farms or trapped and killed for their pelts. The list provided in the CFDA's statement includes mink, fox, rabbit, chinchilla, coyote, raccoon dog, and karakul. The organization announced that it will no longer promote such material through its official calendar, social media channels, or website. At the same time, artificial fur is not subject to the new restriction, and, as Vogue explains, sheepskin with the wool intact also remains permissible. Thus, the appearance of a fluffy coat or accessory on a show no longer, in itself, signals a violation — the key criterion is the origin of the raw material.

Timeline and exceptions

The CFDA announced its decision on December 3, 2025, so that designers would have time to change materials and show plans before the season began. The rule sets the conditions specifically for collections on the official NYFW calendar and does not establish a universal ban on wearing fur in New York. A separate exception is provided for fur obtained by Indigenous peoples through traditional hunting aimed at meeting the basic needs of their communities. The decision was the result of a collaboration between the CFDA and the animal-welfare organizations Humane World for Animals and Collective Fashion Justice.

Industry stance and brand reactions

According to CFDA President and CEO Steven Kolb, there was already little natural fur on these shows, and consumers, in his words, are "turning away from products associated with animal cruelty." The organization stated that it seeks to encourage designers to pay closer attention to the fashion industry's impact on animals. Some participants, including Coach and Michael Kors, had already dropped fur before the general rule was adopted. To help transition to alternative materials, the CFDA promises designers training resources and access to a materials library.

Significance for the market

The introduced restriction codifies a trend that the fashion industry has been developing over recent years: major houses and retailers have been steadily reducing their use of natural fur, responding to audience demand and pressure from animal-welfare organizations. For NYFW, this means that from the spring-summer 2027 season onward, fluffy looks on the runway will be predominantly synthetic or made from permitted materials, setting a new standard for the other fashion weeks, which are increasingly following similar rules.