Last fall, a lovely young lass named Jaclyn Sharp popped by our offices to
chat about her new venture: A line of faux fur so luxe, it bears a special
logo attesting to its fakeness. Dubbed Imposter, the tiny collection
(consisting of a vest, trapper hat and earmuffs) was just rolling out to a
handful of retailers, but had already been selling like hotcakes at Henri
Bendel and a smattering of tiny stores in Connecticut and Long Island,
including Richards in Greenwich and Marshs in Huntington.
Of course, being the critter-lover I am, I was all ears, especially when Sharp whipped-out (and let me keep!) a hunk of the truly sumptuous fakey fake stuff she sources from Tissavel, the premier purveyor of faux fur based in Neuville-en-Ferrain, France. While I ran my little mitts over that swatch, we talked for at least an hour.
Flash-forward a few months, and Sharp — a former marketing executive who
rescues thoroughbred horses in her spare time — is on a serious roll. She
recently unveiled the Imposter website, is
partnering with Farm Sanctuary on a new philanthropic initiative and has
enlisted the help of Hollywood branding types to get the goods into the
hands of stylish animal-lovers like Carrie "Sexiest Vegetarian Alive"
Underwood.
Happily, Sharp is adding new styles for fall. And it's not a moment too soon; if New York fashion week is any indication, fur — both the real and faux varieties — will be everywhere.
