In the 1990s, supermodels like Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell posed in the buff for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) under the slogan "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" -- part of initiatives that helped make fur politically incorrect.

Two decades later, mink and fox fur have become regulars in the most prestigious fashion shows.

According to www.fashionista.com, 70 percent of designers used fur in their fall-winter collections in 2013, a trend that seems set to continue in this year's shows.

Some professionals think the comeback may be due to the financial crisis.

"If you're in a situation where the economy is on a downward trend, politicians tend to focus on essentials -- how to get economic growth going again, securing jobs," Fur Europe lobby head Bo Manderup said.

"The luxury of political correctness may have gone down the drain with the financial crisis."