Feathers 101

All about feathers

Fashion has consistently developed into an art recognizing no boundaries. Different materials are now used to craft different accessories, dresses, shoes and bags to perfection. One of the classic pieces commonly used by people is none other than feathers. Feathers of all types and origins have been tailored to satisfy the fashion industry’s thirst for style. If you are a budding stylist interested in using feathers, below are some of the things that will guide you through. 

Photo Credit : Pinterest

Commonly used feathers Feathers may be used as a design material for any fashion item i.e. earrings, necklaces, bags, etc. Feathers instantly give your item a style worthy of a red carpet event without the usual hassle. Surely, some of you may be raising an eyebrow at the thought of killing birds for their feathers. While this is the early practice, this is not necessarily the case today. Feathers may come from natural or synthetic/ artificial sources, and both have their own advantages and disadvantages. 

Feathers may come from natural sources such as: 
Peacocks 
Turkeys 

Natural feathers: Advantages 
• Real in every sense 
• Every feather is unique 
• Contains natural color and texture 

Natural feathers: Disadvantages 
• May contain odor  
• Can easily wither 
• May involves animal killing/ skinning 
• More expensive 
• Hard to preserve 

Synthetic feathers: Advantages 
• Easily manufactured and found everywhere 
• Cheaper 
• Can be used readily 
• Not perishable, hence capable of prolonged storage 

Synthetic feathers: Disadvantages 
• They don’t look as real 
• Texture is not the same 

Feathers are now widely used in many industries like fashion, arts and crafts, home decorations and many more. They are art pieces that never go out of style, hence always a good choice. However in choosing the right feather accessory, you need to figure out which type of feather will suit your craft well. 

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