FICKLE FASHION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1931, Page 13

FICKLE FASHION

OSTRICH PLUMES AGAIN

■ Messages from South Africa indicate that ostrich farmers are preparing for a boom in feathers (states.the "Evening Standard"). This is the first result of the new decree of fashion that women shall wear plume* on the'now "bowler" hats, and if the craze lasts prices may soar to:high-figures. ' Large supplies of ostrict: feathers havp been in storage for several years'at London dock warehouses and the revival of the fashion has come at a time when breeders were beginning to despair. They had reduced their stocks to_ the -minimum, retaining only a sufficient number of birds to enable them to' reWtnmence breeding.1 . ' • :■ " - Importation of the plumage of the egret and bird of .paradise has; been illegal .in this: country ■ since . 1922> so that the demand for feathers must necessarily be 'confined to ostrich feathers; ' ' A Mincing lano dealer said: "Fashion is.very fickle, and it is.too early yet to get enthusiastic, about the new craze. Several attempts have been made -in recent years to induce women to wear feathers on their hats,'.without success. Valuable birds from South Africa were exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley -with- the .-object of reviving interest in an industry which was badly hit through the war. There was a demand for" feather trimmings in 1925, usually plumes of the bird of paradise and egret, and although their importation was illegal a large quantity is believed to have been smuggled iuto the country. FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. "It was expected that it would lead to a revival of the ostrich feather industry, and the already extensive stocks at London warehouses were increased. Nothing of the kind occurred, and, fearing that the industry was doomed, some breeders gave up the business. The result was that fewer birds were retained for breeding. There has been a demand for feathers following the latest fashion, but prices have not materially increased, as -there are plenty of feathers to supply immediate needs. The ostrich trade is almost a British monopoly, and a boom would benefit our own people." •The chief ostrict district of the Cape was at Oudtshorn. A few years ago1 the farmers in this area advocated a restriction of the. output with the object of stabilising the industry. Government control sent': up the prices of feathers, but only temporarily. In 1913 there were three-quarters of a million ostriches in South Africa. Ten years later the numbers were reduced to half that number.