TikTok fashion designer collects roadkill to make her own fur coats in ‘greatest loophole’

Cain dubs the decision a “loophole” to be able to ethically use and wear fur coats, seeing as the animals are already deceased when she finds them. 

Using roadkill to create fashion fur designs

Cain shared the video of her work to TikTok on December 1, where it has since gained over 1.8 million views. In her video, Cain posed the common claim that “making fur coats is bad” while showing her designs featuring animal fur. 

She went on to explain that she’s found “the greatest loophole” by using roadkill in her designs instead. Clips showed the designer retrieving the roadkill, putting on gloves, and even crawling along the highway to get the animals. Cain bags up the animal before putting it in a box in her trunk.

For Cain, a deer is the largest roadkill she’s tackled so far. The designer showed the garment with brown fur trimmings in a video on her TikTok.

Despite sharing her practice on TikTok, Cain says she’s aware that it might not be to everyone’s taste. “I know what I do is very controversial,” she said in a TikTok video. “Some of you are into it, some of you think what I do is disgusting. Some of you think I’m a freak or crazy.”

Overall though, Cain says she’s “just trying to give them a beautiful second life” through her work. 

People are fans of the roadkill designs

Although Cain highlighted some of the negative reactions she’s received to her work, many have also voiced support for it and the positive environmental impact of reusing what is already there.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle. Rock on,” commented one viewer.

“Totally fine with me because roadkill always makes me really sad,” agreed another. 

It’s not legal everywhere

Cain lives in Tennessee, where collecting roadkill is completely legal. Anyone tempted to do the same however should check their state laws when it comes to collecting and using any roadkill.

Some states, like Texas, do not let people keep a roadkill animal unless they have specific hunting permits or licenses.

The reasoning behind this decision for many states is to prevent hunters from illegally killing animals along the roadway only to claim it as roadkill.

“Prior to this rule, poachers could claim that their illegal kill was collected on the road as salvaged roadkill. This rule change removed the possibility of a false defense,” Wildlife Public Information Officer Lerrin Johnson told CW39 earlier this year.  

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