CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Fur coats are plentiful on the streets of Cortina d’Ampezzo, especially during these Winter Games.
When asked to explain why furs remain so common here, even as much of the world has moved to synthetic alternatives, whether for environmental, ethical, or affordability reasons, the answers are revealing. Italians say it’s a bubble, devoid of political activists and the working class. Coats of mink, lynx, wolf, sable and ocelot can be seen up and down the Corso Italia, the main street.
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Husband and wife, Christina and Roberto, pose for a photo with their poodles, Gualtiero, left, and Leone, wearing customised Loro Piana jackets, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Sales manager for Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, Marco Molinari, right, helps his client, Stefano Vannicola, put on a fur coat in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A woman wearing a lynx fur coat leaves Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cecilia Secondin poses with her dog Porter in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A woman walks past Loro Piana luxury shop in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Marina Bozzoli, 82, and Orietta Guarini, 83, pose for a photo in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cecilia Secondin poses with her dog Porter in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Husband and wife, Christina and Roberto, pose for a photo with their poodles, Gualtiero, left, and Leone, wearing customised Loro Piana jackets, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
From left, Stefano Vannicola, Silvia Antelli, and Stefania Damiani browse the local branch of Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, while chatting with sales manager Marco Molinari in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A model pug wearing a coat of kangaroo fur sits at the foot of the fur coat boutique Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Sales manager for Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, Marco Molinari, right, helps his client, Stefano Vannicola, put on a fur coat in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Fur coats are displayed at the Pajaro shop, a luxury Italian fashion brand, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Paola De Leidi poses for a photo wearing a fur coat after an interview with The Associated Press in the Pajaro shop, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
A woman wearing a lynx fur coat leaves Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cecilia Secondin poses with her dog Porter in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A woman walks past Loro Piana luxury shop in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Marina Bozzoli, 82, and Orietta Guarini, 83, pose for a photo in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cecilia Secondin poses with her dog Porter in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Husband and wife, Christina and Roberto, pose for a photo with their poodles, Gualtiero, left, and Leone, wearing customised Loro Piana jackets, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
From left, Stefano Vannicola, Silvia Antelli, and Stefania Damiani browse the local branch of Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, while chatting with sales manager Marco Molinari in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A model pug wearing a coat of kangaroo fur sits at the foot of the fur coat boutique Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Sales manager for Pajaro, a luxury Italian fashion brand, Marco Molinari, right, helps his client, Stefano Vannicola, put on a fur coat in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Fur coats are displayed at the Pajaro shop, a luxury Italian fashion brand, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Paola De Leidi poses for a photo wearing a fur coat after an interview with The Associated Press in the Pajaro shop, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
A U.K. police force said Thursday that it was “assessing” reports that the former Prince Andrew sent trade reports to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who is King Charles III's brother, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
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