Fashion Event Says Nutria Fur Acceptable

New Orleans fashion designer Micha Michelle Melancon is working with the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation to put on an event called Nutria Palooza to promote the use of nutria fur for clothing. Nutria are also called swamp rats and are considered pests in Louisiana because they damage wild wetlands habitats. They were introduced there decades ago to be kept on fur farms in cages, but the wily animals escaped into the swamp where they bred prolifically.

Reportedly now they inhabit 23,000 acres of protected swamp and coast lands, which the nutria are damaging by eating the native plants. Their tendency is to inhabit an area until they have eaten every plant in sight, and then move to the next space and do it again. The areas they decimate are called eat-outs, and there isn’t anything left for other species to use for for food or habitat.

The Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation was formed to preserve and restore Louisiana’s wetlands and coastal areas. They are the main sponsor of Nutria Palooza which is taking place in New York to promote the animal’s fur in a fashion show at the House of Yes, with twenty designers. About 150 people are expected to watch a fashion show exhibiting leg warmers, hats, muffs and even a wedding dress. A wedding dress containing swamp rat fur might seem like a stretch, but nutria coats were popular with a few Hollywood actresses decades ago, so they could make a comeback.

One might expect PETA to protest the event but so far they haven’t made an official statement criticizing the fashion show. Several shows have already been held in New Orleans, called Righteous Fur because of the view nutria fur fashion is not only acceptable, but also guilt-free and environmentally friendly. Nutria are such a problem in Louisiana the state pays five dollars for every one that is killed. About 400,000 were bagged by local hunters and trappers last year, but the carcasses were left in the swamps or discarded.

Fashion designer Cree McCree decided to try and use the surplus of deceased nutria for her designs, even using the teeth to make necklaces which sell for $85. She started Righteous Furs to promote her fashion items and the use of nutria fur. She works with Ms. Melancon promoting nutria fashions.

Image Credit: J. Patrick Fischer

Read more: Pets, Nature & Wildlife, Wildlife, fur, nutria, swamp rats

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Julia R.

11:59PM PDT on Oct 16, 2011

This animal still shouldn't be used for fur regardless of whether he is considered a pest or bad for the environment. Using any animal for fur sends a very bad message to people that it is still okay to use animals for fur! The fashion industry should use faux fur plain and simply if they're going to use fur so as to make it a clear and unambiguous statement that using real fur is unacceptable in fashion.

send a green star

Helene B.

5:31AM PST on Feb 6, 2011

There is no such thing as "guilt-free fur"

Past Member .

8:18PM PST on Jan 10, 2011

Oh great, now the Anti-Wolf morons from dA are starting crap on here, too. -_-

Guys, if you notice some idiot posting on news entries just to insult everyone and "educate" us, just ignore them. Believe me, I've seen these idiots before. They have no idea what they're even talking about and are just here to troll.

And I will not let them troll this community.

Michelle G.

5:28PM PST on Jan 10, 2011

I value all life equally. I don't quantify it the way you do; that is the difference. Plain and simple. I too have a natural habitat in my area that I value quite deeply, but I have never seen nature, make the mistakes that humans keep making to undo that last mistake. It needs to be thought out more carefully than a quip on the internet. I am saying though, that if it costs more to do this in the kindest and best way possible; So be it. Governments and individuals all make errors; Humans commit the crime they should be the ones paying for it. The easiest way is not always the best way P.S. What's with the plastic fibers? I think in your excitement you may have gone a little too far in your character analyzation. Too much assumption and not enough knowledge.

Colleen P.

4:56PM PST on Jan 10, 2011

i love how people value the life of a Nutetia more than the wildlands, more than the native wildlife.
how "hyumans iz invasive lets hunt hyumans, but not me because I'm vegan and so are my kids so I'm a good guy"

nuteria are to numerous and it's to expensive to TNR them.
and everyone would rather feed the poor with tofu, and cloth the cold with plastic fibers.

4:55PM PST on Jan 10, 2011

Terry V.

8:28PM PST on Dec 26, 2010

Another person comes up with a bright eyed brain storm.
DUHHHHH! Just think of something else better to do with your time>

annie s.

6:35PM PST on Dec 13, 2010

Humans are the problem once again---------when will they ever learn.

Kersty E.

2:05PM PST on Dec 11, 2010

To Sarah P., Humans are a very invasive species and there are way too many on this planet. What would you like to do about that?

11:07AM PST on Dec 11, 2010

Sarah you are a mindless twat. Yeah, let's kill them to cull them. Don't worry it won't affect me. I hope you come back as one of them and see how you feel about it then. Don't even bother yourself that it was a mistake of humans in the first place. The attitude that everything is expendable when it becomes an inconvenience is uniquely human and extremely selfish. Oh yeah, and lets further benefit ourselves and make some clothes out of it. How Ghoulish!!!