Designers put furry spin on timeless theme
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 Liya Kebede is breaking modeling barriers.
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(CNN) -- Fur is back -- and in a big way.
Not only is it showing up in hip- hop videos and on the backs of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce Knowles, but furry fashions also appeared on numerous runways during New York's Fashion Week.
Carolina Herrera, Isaac Mizrahi and Michael Kors are just some of the designers who adorned their models in fur.
Overall, fur was displayed in greater numbers than in previous years, coming in all colors, shapes and sizes.
Kate Betts, editor in chief of Time Style & Design, (Time is a part of Time Warner as is CNN.com), says that fur is experiencing a resurgence -- even though it never really went away.
"It's getting stronger and stronger," she said. "I see funky fur now. We're seeing fur with lace on it and camouflaged-printed fur."
Vera Wang's collection featured models wearing fur bonnets, while Mizrahi put a new spin on the classic full-length fur coat by adding see-through plastic in the sleeves and bodice.
Some designers also used fur to accent key pieces in their collections. Oscar de la Renta used red fox to highlight an embroidered brown scarf. Carmen Marc Valvo also used fox to trim a luxurious looking cashmere cardigan in his show.
The prevalence of fur on the runway this season corresponds to fur sales nationwide.
The Fur Information Council of America reports that sales of fur and fur-trimmed apparel and accessories rose to a record $1.8 billion in 2003, a 7.5 percent increase from the previous year.
So why the revival?
Kors says that luxuries such as furs have always been an integral part of fashion, but notes that in recent years the younger generation has taken a greater interest.
"The interesting thing now is I see teenagers who are luxury obsessed. Even if it's a Michael Kors change purse or just crocodile trim on a shoe," he said. "I don't think we're ever going to want to give up luxury and indulgence."
Although it may be hard to convince some to forsake the "finer things in life," anti-fur groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are trying to offer an alternative.
The group, who in previous years has staged protests at fashion shows where fur was used, staged its own show of animal friendly designs this year.
PETA spokesman and former NBA player Dennis Rodman understands that people want to look good, but thinks that if they watched videotape of what the animals go through to make these fashions, they would change their minds. "If I was a fur lover, I think I would actually switch on the spot," he said.
