During this time of year I usually write my usual rant about animal circuses visiting Malta, but this year I’m hopeful that the battle will be won soon enough and that it will be the last year that this atrocity is allowed to happen on our shores.

Still, I can’t let the festive season go by without a word to help our fury friends.

Mrs Muscat and her twins were seen wearing what looked like fur coats. Whilst I doubt this is real fur, please rest assured that if it were I’d be the first to shout out in crying shame. If it’s faux fur however it’s a different story. You might think it’s in bad taste, especially for the children to be wearing it, but politically it’s a different issue altogether.

Up to a few years ago faux fur used to be a sticky issue for me too, because I feared that by wearing it I’d send the message that real fur is fashionable.

But over the years I’ve come to realize that fury looking items are not going anywhere any time soon. I mean let’s face it, it’s been uncool to wear real fur for ages, and that yet, some people still insist on it.

So what to do short of stamping my feet in rage?

Some time last year I was about to spend a good Euro at a clothes’ shop, when just as I was opening my purse to hand over my credit card, the shop manager brought out some real fur items to show around. Flabbergasted and disgusted, I dropped all my would-be purchases on the counter and walked out of the shop dragging three other people with me.

The last time I checked the shop does not stock real fur anymore so I’ve now come to realize that my money is the best way to vote and influence social change. So whether I’m buying cruelty-free mascara, a pair of fake leather shoes, or leaving the fois gras on the shelves (sometimes hiding it behind the orange displays), I’m convinced that where I spend my money is more influential than my writing, my blogging, and my arguing and discussing until I’m blue in the face.

So let’s work with what we have shall we? If you must wear fur, make sure it’s faux fur because, firstly it stops you being a torturous murderer, and secondly it sends out the message that there is a market for that particular product and NOT real fur.

In the fashion market the biggest competitive threat to real fur is faux fur, so maybe it’s not such a bad thing to have it around after all.

BUT if you’re some kind of celebrity or popular person, there’s one more thing you can do…. Make absolutely damn sure that people know that what you’re wearing is NOT REAL.

I’ve personally had a badge made that says ‘Real Fur KILLS, Faux Fur ROCKS,’ and I make sure to stick it on to the potentially misinterpreted item whenever I’m wearing anything that remotely resembles our fury friends’ skin.

I’ll be damned before I let anyone believe I’m idiotic enough to take the skin of an animal’s back just to look good. What about you?