In December 2025, the CFDA announced a landmark transition for New York Fashion Week: as of the September 2026 season, animal fur will no longer be permitted in collections on the official schedule, nor will it be promoted across the fashion calendar, social media channels, or the CFDA website. This decision – the result of years of collaboration with Humane World for Animals and Collective Fashion Justice applies to animals killed specifically for their pelts, with a vital exemption for fur obtained by Indigenous communities through traditional subsistence hunting practices.

To support the industry through this evolution, the CFDA hosted The Next Era of Materials: Fur Free Fashion, a conversation dedicated to exploring how bio-based and innovative materials can offer compelling, creative alternatives without compromise. The session featured three leaders at the forefront of this movement:

Emma Hakansson, Founding Director of Collective Fashion Justice; PJ Smith, Director of Fashion Policy for Humane World for Animals; and Graham Tabor, Founder of Graham Tabor Studio.

The panel discussed the rapid collapse of the global fur trade and the rise of a “biomaterial revolution,” showcasing plant-based and bio-polymer innovations like Biofluff and Savian that achieve luxury aesthetics with a significantly lower environmental footprint. How creative fabric manipulation, utilizing everything from upcycled denim to recycled fiberglass can replicate the movement of fur while expanding the boundaries of contemporary design. By reframing the supply chain as a collaborative partnership, innovation with intention can build a more regenerative and ethical future for the industry.

Watch the full conversation above.