Conservationist uses invasive fox fur to make ethical clothing
Emma Sinclair was inspired to work with fox fur after learning how the pests impact native animals. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
In short:
Conservationist Emma Sinclair was inspired to use fox pelts to create beanies after learning about the pest's impact on native animals.
She wanted to help farmers by doing something with the fur that would have otherwise rotted away in their paddocks.
The Invasive Species Council says foxes have contributed to the extinction of 16 native mammals in Australia, but that harvesting fox pelts will not make a dent in efforts to cull them.
Six months ago, conservationist Emma Sinclair did not know how to sew a button.
Now, her passion for native Australian wildlife has inspired her to craft fashion out of fox fur.
A quick trip to Paris turned into a two-month unofficial internship with a furrier. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
"The motivation is coming from a wildlife conservation perspective of seeing the horrendous weight that foxes are putting on our beautiful endemic wildlife," Ms Sinclair said.
"The idea was to use the fur of foxes that have to be culled, and reuse that … biodegradable material, turning it into clothing.
"My project is not the traditional fur industry, I'm not wanting to revive an industry that I'm very glad has closed."
Fox pelts used in the clothing are harvested from farmers properties. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
Foxes were introduced to Australia in the mid to late 1800s, with shipments of red foxes from Europe released into the bush for hunters.
According to the Invasive Species Council (ISC), the animal had spread across 80 per cent of the mainland within 50 years.
The ISC says foxes are one of Australia's most invasive predators, having contributed to the extinction of 16 native mammals.
Streets of Paris
Ms Sinclair studied International Relations but has returned to university to complete her master's in Biodiversity Conservation and works as a conservationist.
"I looked around Australia to see if I could learn how to work with fur here, and the fur industry doesn't exist anymore, which I think is a very good thing," she said.
"I'm generally very against farmed fur and hunting animals for fur … but I needed to learn.
She said her vision was solidified during a trip to France for a wedding, which quickly turned into a two-month unofficial internship.
The aim is to steer away from petrochemical-based textiles. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
"I walked all over Paris, introducing myself to anyone that was vaguely in the fur trade and through my broken French explained my concept and what I was wanting to do," she said.
Ms Sinclair eventually met a furrier, someone who makes clothing and other bits and pieces out of fur, who offered to help her learn how to skin, tan and work with fox fur.
She had to learn how to use a particular sewing machine, as the standard ones do not work with fur, and then had to purchase one and restore it back in Australia.
"I wouldn't have been able to imagine six months ago that I would know this much about making clothes, about fur, about foxes," she said.
All processing of the fox fur clothing happens on Australian soil. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
Harvesting fox pelts
When she returned from France, Ms Sinclair reached out to farmers in the Canberra area.
"I started hearing the most harrowing stories of people's whole livelihoods just being absolutely destroyed," she said.
"With the price of a lamb being around $400 at the moment… I've heard stories of foxes taking out 50 lambs a year."
The pom-pom of the beanie is made from invasive fox fur. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
Ms Sinclair found a team of conservation-focused hunters who shared her vision, and paid farmers to collect pelts that would have otherwise rotted in paddocks.
"I'd bring hunters along and we'd harvest fox pelts, knowing that having less foxes is serving the farmers and also hopefully the wildlife around as well," she said.
Policy director with the Invasive Species Council Carol Booth said while turning fox pelts into clothing was a good use of a resource, but there was no prospect it would help reduce Australia's fox problem.
"If it was just a matter of incentivising fox control, we wouldn't have a fox problem in the first place,"Dr Booth said.
"Foxes can more than double their numbers in a year, and to reduce a population requires killing at least 65 per cent a year."
Emma has always had a love of animals. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
Ethically sourced textiles
After teaming up with merino sheep farmers Marc and Donna Fields, Ms Sinclair also uses wool in her creations, which includes beanies with fox fur pom-poms.
Donna and Marc Fields have their own alpacas on their farm. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
Ms Fields said they had experienced the devastation of foxes on their property.
"We hear horrible sounds at night-time where they're actually attacking native birds, even ducks, and we just see the devastation of what they do to our native landscape," she said.
Marc and Donna Fields have had problems with foxes on their property. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
They process fibre on site, from raw fleece to a fine ball of wool.
Mr Field said working with Ms Sinclair made sense.
"So we love the idea of helping out … providing [Emma] with some beautiful Australian merino she can use to manufacture her beanies."
Emma Sinclair works with a Hawkesbury-based grower who only uses Australian-grown wool from alpacas and merino sheep. (ABC Central West: Emily Middleton)
While the endeavour might not solve the fox problem, Ms Sinclair said she hoped to bring awareness to the issue.
"I just want to commodify the pelt of the fox a little bit for farmers, reduce the wastage, to hopefully put some pressure back on the fox and leave some space for our native wildlife," she said.