How to choose the right mink coat. How does the color of natural mink affect the cost of a fur coat?

I paid almost 2000 for it? more

Those. about 280 thousand? It's expensive for such quality tailoring. Understandable, but not reasonable.

How long will it last and how warm will it be, otherwise I’m very cold?

Among the predicted problems - nothing exotic: the resistance of the tint to fading (on blue-black it will be very noticeable0 and dry cleaning. If you are careless with your fur coat, you can tear it very quality product. So, there are no peculiarities here; the flesh, of course, was discolored, but this is not as critical as it seems.
Avoid over-hydration, but this is also universal advice.
The thermal protection of a fur coat depends 80 percent on the style, and only with absolutely identical styles will you feel the difference in the thickness of the fur.

Which manufacturers should you pay attention to first when choosing a fur coat?

for brands with a transparently adequate history. The quality of such companies can be predicted with a very high degree of probability.

In your opinion, is it possible to buy a decent, and not Chinese, fur coat in " To the Snow Queen"? It’s just that my friend bought herself a fur coat in China, already with the label of the snow queen...

Very theoretical. Even brands of a very decent level are under pressure on prices, therefore, for the sake of sales volume, they are forced to reduce costs due to loss of quality.
Stable quality in the UK is found in the upper level of brands that are not interested in mass sales, which maintain selling prices and, accordingly, only a small amount is purchased to decorate the collection. This is no longer a business, but a decoration. Therefore, it is very profitable to buy such products at the end of the season, since the years of the collection are very obvious, such things cannot be left for several years. We last saw this with Anabella, but we are not sure if this tradition is still alive.
Extras of decent brands such as Ciolini, Braschi, gently us any Tsoukas bros. in the UK it loses quality very significantly.

Should I pay attention to products on which labels such as blackglama, black nafa, black velvet or with the name of the manufacturer are sewn on by hand?
As in the photo on the link

The technology of sewing labels is not regulated. The only practical problem with such sewing is that it is impossible to look at the back of the label, which, in some cases, is one of the factors of their authenticity.
To manipulate, you need to clearly understand them. To at least understand whether they are original or fake.
In the photo on the link Black Velvet is not related to any auction, this is the initiative of the manufacturer.

The raw material label does not provide much as a guarantee of quality, but it is a necessary condition, confirming that this company works with a product of this class. If an item has a obviously fake label, this immediately raises red flags regarding the manufacturer’s other claims and raises doubts about the seller’s professionalism and honesty.

If a fur coat with an old Blackglama label (without a halogram) hangs in a store, does this mean that it has been hanging in the store for at least 5 years (provided that it is original)? What will be the wearing period in this case?

When the auction changed the labels, all manufacturers and sellers could change all their stocks of labels in warehouses and sewn on finished products to the new design, there were no technical problems with this. The main thing was to present the old authentic label. If a product hangs with a genuine old label, this is either laziness, thoughtlessness, lack of information, or some kind of dark history of the product.
The natural aging of fur is about twenty years; operational aging is much faster. That's why big problems with the practical characteristics of the old product there is no. True, usually such things show signs of fading, but this is noticeable upon careful inspection.

Are strokes with a ballpoint pen allowed on the inside of branded fur coats?

When sewing, there are always some notes from furriers, typesetters, and quality control departments. Good tone, that if the visibility of the interior is expected (on light-colored products with a transparent lining, with detachable linings), so that everything inside is beautiful, this indicates the correct technological process in production.

Do you have a photo of what an ideal mink coat should look like (high-quality, beautiful, fashionable and warm), including the inside out?

There are no perfect fur coats at any level of brand. You can always find some drawback; fur is a natural material, not standardized, and the design in most cases reduces the traditional requirements for a fur item.
It is more correct to talk about an adequate balance between price, quality and the necessary subjective consumer characteristics.

If we talk about this product, the main problem here is that the level of tailoring did not correspond to the level of raw materials. Let's just say that if everything was assembled from a Chinese low-cost
mink, the appearance would be the same, but the price would be fundamentally different.
Expensive raw materials were used (North American mink), which ensured a high cost, but the resulting item turned out to be inadequate in price and poor in appearance.
For the cross-section, a low-spine mink was taken, which does not have a difference between the height of the hair on the side and the ridge and is lost in the cross-section. Those. Initially, the one who made the decision to launch) proceeded from the idea that the product should be exclusive, but did not have the professional level to evaluate the whole picture.
In order to somehow emphasize the stripes, elite raw materials are embroidered with sheared mink, with a completely different value, and, moreover, it is embroidered widely and with the substitution of some pieces. It's like a chef adding rotten carrots to a sirloin dish.
A model with pretensions to design, but it was put together carelessly, from different types of skins. It's either general level technologies in production, or a random mistake that was missed by the quality control department (if there is one). From the consumer's point of view, the reason is not very important, the result is the same.
If you start delving into the technology, when a product with a clear geometry is straightened, all straight lines should be fixed with brackets on the straightening. From the inside you can see that all the seams are “walking”. This is either a lack of editing or the result of shrinkage after dry cleaning. Both are signs of a low level of manufacturing.

At a certain age, every girl needs a fur coat. Even if you live in Sochi or Los Angeles. Still needed. "So that it may be." And in general, a fur coat is a commandment, well, sort of like for men about “plant a tree, build a house, give birth to a son.” Ha-ha, let them try and give birth!.. Oh, well, yes, I’m talking about something else...

FUR COATS are divided into mink and non-mink. This division is very subtle and creative. Let's say sable is definitely mink. Not literally, but figuratively. Beautiful, expensive, rich. But astrakhan, goat, rabbit, fox, arctic fox, raccoon, lynx or wolf are definitely non-mink. No, I’m not a discriminator, of course, everyone chooses a fur coat that suits their pocket. The essence of a non-mink coat is that it quickly wears out and becomes unsaleable (with the possible exception of astrakhan fur, and that’s because it’s simply rough in itself). Well... not so awesome! And we are not so rich that we can spend money on cheap things.

Selfish question

The quality of mink varies in color, thickness, and sewing method.

The most popular destinations from which fur coats come to us are Greece, China and Italy. Well, everything is clear with China. In Greece, thousands of them are stolen in the town of Kastoria (and then partially transported to Italy. Don’t be surprised if a knowledgeable friend discovers a Greek label on your purely Italian fur coat, for example Saga mink or Avanti), but the skins are purchased where they should be - at auctions in America and Canada. So don’t have a complex in front of snobs: even a Greek fur coat sounds proud!

Many people argue whose skins are better - Canadian or American? Don't fool yourself - both are good. You can also ask when mink became the raw material for your winter stole - in winter (then the fur is especially thick and fluffy) or in summer (then the animals molt). But you can only do this if the fur seems liquid to you and generally “not like that.” Formulate this unobtrusively: “Why is there so little fur, is it summer mink?”

Fur can also be liquid because it was processed poorly, or rather, greedily. When furriers stretch the skin on a special stand, treating it with a special solution, its skin is plastic, something like a stretch effect. But only the skin stretches! The number of hairs on it does not increase. In addition, it becomes thinner, and therefore more fragile. A fur coat made from well-dressed skins is “thick”, the fur is thick and shiny, without “creases” (this may indicate a defect in both the fur and the tailor). The seams are stitched thinly, neatly and can hardly be felt.

If the seller is calm about the fur coat, he will let you mock it: pull the fur, tug, see how the seams and pile behave. If you run your hand against the grain, if the fur quickly falls into place, and the skin is soft to the touch, everything is in order.

You can also shake the fur coat and see how the lint falls off. If the process is clearly not intensive (after drying procedures any fresh fur coat will “fly”), then everything is OK. By the way, conscientious sellers even throw fur coats on the floor and sometimes trample them. But this already smacks a little of mild psychiatry...

Taste and color

As we said, color matters. Each, like paint for Zhiguli cars, has its own name, which is almost not associated with the color itself. Therefore, we will explain ourselves on our fingers and call things by their proper names.

The cheapest mink is walnut, that is, light brown, followed by dark brown. Then - a variety of red ones, from juicy golden honey to light amber. Even more expensive are black mink, beige, gray and blue (also gray, but with a grayish-blue tint, which went out of fashion a year or two ago, and therefore has dropped slightly in price). In the next price category - the so-called "tourmaline" (beige undercoat and brown long hair, which creates an interesting smoky effect) and white fur (sometimes with gray hair). The most expensive mink today is the “black diamond” mink, black with a blue or purple tint. It can be difficult for an inexperienced buyer to distinguish it from just black. In addition, skilled furriers (or whoever does this for them?) have learned to dye cheaper fur so skillfully that at first glance you can’t tell the difference: it sparkles and shimmers, and it hurts your eyes. There is only one method: spread the undercoat with your fingers (it should be purely black) and check the color of the skin. If the skin has not been subjected to hairdressing procedures, it should remain white.

Now about “unnatural blondes”. Since progress does not stand still, methods for high-quality coloring of skins are increasing every year. However, there are two theories here. First: only expensive white fur is dyed (that is, shaded), which is why all dyed fur coats are among the most expensive. Second: any fur is dyed in order to hide its defects, which means it should cost less. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. New paints are able to “take on” not only very light, but also quite dark fur (see the passage about progress). Therefore, walnut mink is most often painted - it is the cheapest and can “grab” even a light shade. And its skin remains pristinely white (remember our human hair dyes - after all, the scalp does not at all become “bright copper” after your “Vella” or “L”Oreal.”) Here the eagle’s eye becomes our assistant: if you look carefully take a closer look at the color, the brownish note will still be noticeable. Although it is white mink that is most often painted in pink and blue. All shades of red, green, light green, purple and blue fit perfectly with the “walnut.” And this season, dyed fur in special favor.

Pinch her!

There are three types of mink fur: normal, plucked and sheared.

From a plucked mink, long and coarser hairs are pulled out (using a special device, hopefully, and not a banal epilator), leaving the undercoat untouched. This makes the fur coat very “plush”, but they say it dries out faster. Therefore, a plucked mink is usually complemented with a collar made of “normal” fur, often in a contrasting color (by the way, a popular addition to the “black diamond” is a collar and cuffs made of chinchilla of delicate gray-white fur. A rabbit dyed to look like a chinchilla or even a silver fox or arctic fox (often tinted).

A mink can be trimmed “plucked”, that is, cutting only the top long hair, or in short, almost “to zero”. This can also look quite impressive, but, most likely, you need to draw a disappointing conclusion - the fur was defective. In addition, warming the fur “with a short hairstyle” will be sluggish. It makes sense to buy sheared and dyed mink, sewn from pieces. It's unlikely to last long, but it's cheap and cheerful (in Greece you can get a short jacket for $250-300). And remember: there are no chinchilla collars on sheared mink, just as there are no sapphires set in silver. Dear stone and the frame needs a corresponding one!

What is inside?

The price of your fur coat depends not only on the color and quality of the fur itself, but also on the size of the skin plates. The way they are fitted determines how the fur on the fur coat looks as a whole: whether it flows, whether it “bends” at the folds. No matter what the seller tells you, he (if there is no trick) is obliged, at your request, to rip off the hem of the lining and let the potential buyer look at the inside of the fur coat. If the price of a coat or jacket is above 1.5 thousand. That is, but they don’t let you look under the lining, it’s rubbish.

Using the inside of the fur coat, you check the seams, the finishing of the leather and the size of the plates. Clever tailors can glue pieces of mink onto a fabric base so cleverly that you won’t even suspect anything! No, give us “whole” skins - at least 15 by 15 cm. If the “cut” area is smaller - it’s a “half-plate”, the cost of such a fur coat is 20-30% cheaper. And it’s really bad if you see the sight of small pieces - no, you can, of course, wear such a fur coat, it will also be warm, cozy and loved, but - alas - short-lived. It will serve well for 2-3 years, and then it will pretty much lose its luster, and the pieces will fall apart.

But there is another feature - computer selection (this is the prerogative of Italian manufacturers). That is, the fur coat is stitched together from small pieces “on the bias,” but they are fitted one to one so that the outside is a real sight to behold. The fur flows like a waterfall and even shines more than usual. Due to the expensive technology, such fur coats cost the same as whole ones. But as you wear it, the edges between the pieces become more and more noticeable; with every movement, the fur coat seems to “unfold” into many parts.

Previously, the plates were adjusted to each other only vertically. But the squeak of this season is “horizontal” fur coats. The effect is truly impressive. The price - even more so.

Well, now you, armed with our instructions, can safely go to a fur salon, to the market or on a shopping tour. Remember one thing: in the fur business there is an unspoken rule: “the seller is always right.” This means that BEFORE you give away “your hard-earned husband” money, you must be 100% sure that the fur coat is in order. Inspect, smell and feel it from all sides. After completing the transaction, you will never be able to prove to the seller that “there were holes here,” and this bald spot appeared before you rubbed the fur with your finger.

And one more myth: that a man must buy a fur coat for a woman. The pleasure of a stole, purchased in exchange for sleepless nights over the quarterly report and overtime instead of revelry on International Women's Day, is indescribable. And you will probably be much more careful wearing such a fur coat...

There is no need to wait for winter when prices will jump, decide now. Greece with its fur coat markets is simply relaxing: in the suburbs of Pyatigorsk, in the village of Khoroshevsky, the largest fur coat market in Russia is located with a thousand trading places. There are shops at workshops, boutiques, and exhibitions and fairs from manufacturers, of which there are more than 200.

It all started with the fact that until the mid-90s a large fur factory operated in Pyatigorsk. Five hundred people worked here. After the 1998 crisis, many left the enterprise and began to cut according to their own patterns. Fur makers managed to establish their own production facilities, and now a third of Russian fur coat production is concentrated here. In Khoroshevsky everyone knows about fur coats and they told us something.

OUR FORD IS BETTER THAN CHINESE

The fur market of Pyatigorsk has more than 1000 retail outlets. Sellers lure buyers with mummies of animals, from whose skin the goods are made, and signs with huge discounts. As soon as you take a closer look at the fur coat, they immediately take it off and throw it over your shoulders, praising the product in every possible way.

It suits me very well, it’s tailored just like you,” the seller Vadim showers me with false compliments.

I turn around in front of the mirror. The fur coat fits me like it’s a barrel: the sides bulge, but the shoulders look broad like a grenadier.

“It’s terrible,” I say, “but show me these.”

The seller hastily takes off my fur coat and puts two fur vests on the table - for 8 and 12 thousand rubles.

This is an arctic fox,” he says. - Russian is more expensive, and Chinese is cheaper. One has elastic fur to the touch, while the other has loose fur. It's all in the finishing. We have it better than the Chinese. We don’t skimp on skins, but the Chinese stretch them three times. It’s easy to check: look at the fault, the “Chinese” will have rare undershoots.

I move on to the next “boutique”, already looking closely at something more reputable.

Where are you from, girl? - the seller attacks. - If St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, then nutria is better. It is waterproof and warm. I do not recommend mink and arctic fox if you travel in a car. They are capricious, for a couple of seasons, it is not recommended to even carry a handbag on your shoulder - there will be a mark.

“DO YOU WANT ME TO OPEN THE LINING?”

After the tenth boutique, fur coats start to dazzle your eyes, and you want to try on less and less. Yes, and one senses a catch in the excessive complimentary behavior of the sellers. Maybe they are trying to present cheaper fur as elite, but just look at it - go figure it out. But this is where technology comes to the rescue. Starting this year, all legal fur coats in Russia must be marked with a QR code so that the buyer knows exactly what is in front of him - a Mexican jerboa, a Shanghai leopard or an ordinary Tula hare. Read the code using the “Product Check” application, which can be downloaded to your phone from Googleplay or Applestore.

This is an Australian mouton - a specially made sheepskin,” salesman Arthur introduces me to another fur coat. - Sewn at our Pyatigorsk factory.

Now let’s see what kind of mouton this is,” I say, taking out my phone and holding it up with the camera to the QR code. The fur coat’s “passport” appears on the screen. I read: the product is on sale. Country: Australia. Dyed fur: no. Manufacturer: Pyatigorsk Fur Factory.

The seller studies these fur coats with interest from behind my shoulder. I didn't deceive you. - Buyers still rarely check in this way; more often they take their word for it. In general, because of these brands, fur coats have risen in price by 20 percent,” Arthur complains.

But it turns out that you can buy a fur coat on the market without any markings. The seller will whisper and pull out, as a rule, a very old sheepskin coat from under the coat - for those who like to save money at their own peril and risk.

This is pure mouton. If you want, I’ll cut off the lining and feel it,” Vazgen offers me a wild way of checking.

I refuse and leave. In two hours of walking around fur boutiques, I manage to bore many people with my meticulousness, capriciousness and attempts not only to check the fur through the phone, but also to properly tug at it with my fingers. Sellers frown at such treatment of fur coats and increasingly suggest that I “try to buy for this price in Moscow.”

FOUR NAIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHOOSING A FUR COAT

What to look for when purchasing

The hem should be open, not stitched, so that you can see the inside of the fur coat - whether it is sewn from whole skins or small pieces. The thread color of a good fur coat should be the same as that of the fur. Natural fur is soft and elastic. If it is rough and does not shine, it means it is of poor quality or artificial. On each fur coat, look for a manufacturer's label with the production address and a label with care instructions.

What should fur be like?

Run your hand against the hairs. The fur is soft and immediately returns to its natural position, without breaking or bristling? When twitching, the fur does not fall off and remain in the fingers? (Mink, raccoon and otter do not shed; a couple of hairs may fall from a fox or arctic fox, but nothing more.) Is the underside of a good fur coat light and not dyed? Then you have to take it!

Which style and color to choose

Tall and slender girls will suit any style, including fur coats that are fashionable this season to the middle of the knee, slightly tapered at the bottom. If you have wide hips, buy A-line models - from the armpits to the waist or to the floor. Women with broad shoulders Flares are suitable - from the armpits or from the waist. Trapezoidal models will suit the face of short, robust women, but not below the knee. For brunettes, white and any bright colored fur is suitable. But avoid black so as not to blend in with your fur coat. And blondes should pay attention to black and blue products.

Does the fur coat have a guarantee, expiration date and quality certificate?

When purchasing, it is very important to consider whether the fur coat has a guarantee, expiration date and quality certificate. For any fur coat not purchased on the market or second hand, you must be issued a quality certificate. It will indicate the name and legal address of the manufacturer, the country and legal address of the manufacturer, if the fur coat is not made in Russia. There will also be the name of the organization that carried out the certification, with the seal and signature of the director of this organization, the type of fur, the type of product, GOST quality standards and the validity period of the certificate.

By law, the manufacturer has the right not to establish a warranty period. However, many factories and stores, in the fight for buyers, still provide warranty cards for a period of 6 to 12 months. The guarantee begins with the onset of the season, in Russia this is November 1. If during this time you notice that there is something wrong with the fur coat, you can return it to the store. But to do this you will have to prove that this is a factory defect, and not your crazy hands. In such cases, the fur coat is sent for examination. So she will judge between you and the manufacturer.

WHAT IS WHAT

MOUTON

(+) It lasts a long time, and sometimes warms better than expensive furs, perfectly protects from strong cold winds, and is not afraid of precipitation. (-) Heavy and looks cheap. Exceptions are combined products trimmed, for example, with arctic fox, mink or fox.

NUTRIA

(+) Haircut looks expensive and beautiful, light. Ideal for young fashionistas who cannot afford expensive fur. (-) Does not heat and is not suitable for harsh climates. It wears out quickly and rarely retains the beauty of fur for more than five years.

Arctic fox

(+) The fur is light and very warm. Even at minus 20 it will be comfortable. (-) Fur wears out and falls off, so it is better to avoid belts and carry a purse with a strap in your hands. Doesn't like moisture. A wet fur coat must be thoroughly dried and combed. The white fox may turn yellow after a few seasons.

BEAVER

(+) The fur is elastic, soft, shiny. The thick undercoat provides good thermal insulation. Durable. (-) Quickly absorbs odors, especially cigarette smoke. To get rid of the smell, you will have to take it to the dry cleaner.

OTTER

(+) The most durable fur, can be worn for up to 20 years. The sheared otter looks stylish and is similar in appearance to mink, while being half the price of the latter. (-) Quite heavy. Smells like fish when wet.

FOX

(+) Beautiful fur. It is not afraid of moisture and does not wear out for a long time. (-) Long pile makes you look very fat.

RACCOON

(+) The golden mean: a practical, durable fur coat. The fur is warm, voluminous, light, with long pile. (-) Not suitable for short curvy women.

MINK

(+) Nice fur. Warm. Can be worn in very coldy, however, with a warm lining. It looks expensive and prestigious, and with high-quality tailoring it will last a very long time. (-) Price and abundance of Chinese fakes.

IMPORTANT!

1. The fur coat must have a chip with a QR code. It contains all the information about the fur coat: what it is made of and where, who the manufacturer is. 2. The code is read using the “Product Check” application, which can be downloaded to your phone from Google Play or the App Store.

When choosing a fur coat and visiting fur stores, we expect to receive a high-quality item of clothing that will reliably serve and delight, perhaps for more than one season. To do right choice When buying a fur coat, you need to take into account the existence of “pitfalls”. As in any business, there are subtleties here, which are not always easy to understand.

The Internet is replete with various advice; the opinions of friends are often formed under the influence of rumors and speculation; some unscrupulous fur sellers also make their contribution. As a result, unverified, dubious, and often outright false information takes the place of truth.

Especially for buyers who want to take a responsible approach to purchasing a fur coat, the Fur Fur Salon Ufa offers an overview and analysis of the most persistent myths about fur products.

Misconception No. 1. All Chinese fur coats are of poor quality

This is perhaps the main misconception, rooted in the not very distant past. Indeed, the low-quality Chinese goods that flooded our market at the beginning of the 2000s were remembered by consumers and formed a negative opinion about themselves for a long time.

Now the situation has changed, and the fact that a product is of Chinese origin can no longer in itself indicate low quality. Another thing is that in China a fur coat can be sewn both in a large factory equipped with modern high-tech equipment, and in artisanal conditions, where compliance with technology is out of the question. The choice of raw materials also plays a role - elite furs from Europe and North America or second-class skins of unknown origin are used to sew products in China, as in any other country. It is important here to distinguish one from the other.

In any case, high-quality fur coats cannot be cheap. The most tempting offers that scream “Mink coats are on sale!” or “New Year's discounts!” promise to experience bitter disappointment from a poor-quality purchase. A low price is almost always a sign of a bad fur coat, not the generosity of the seller.

Therefore, the extreme cheapness of Chinese products is also a myth if we are talking about a high-quality product produced on modern equipment by highly qualified craftsmen who are not inferior in their professionalism to their European colleagues. And this state of affairs is quite common for modern China.

In this case, the difference in price in a direction that is pleasing to the buyer is due to the fact that labor in Asia is still much cheaper than in Europe. For this reason, most well-known European brands prefer to have production in the Middle Kingdom, supplying factories with raw materials, patterns and strictly controlling the process from start to finish.

Misconception No. 2. The secrets of computer assembly of fur coats

“Computer-assembled fur coat.” Indeed, it sounds mysterious and attractive. Sellers use obscure terminology to create an atmosphere and attract the attention of buyers who are greedy for high-tech innovations, writing beautiful stories about the use of smart machines and the advantages of the method.

Let's figure out how things are in reality.

It is often said that thanks to computer assembly it is possible to create models original design. This refers to the “dissolved” sewing method, when the skins are cut into thin strips and then sewn into a single fabric.

This method of tailoring is also known as "Greek". It really allows you to play with the shape of the product, for example, when creating flared fur coats.

But the computer takes part in this process only at the stage of creating the pattern. People sew fur strips. This painstaking work requires the special skill of a craftsman and greater time costs compared to the traditional method of sewing from plates. Therefore, the price for such fur coats is usually higher than for analogues made from whole skins.

There is an opinion that products sewn “unfolded” are less reliable to wear, but practice confirms that they are not inferior in reliability to fur coats made using traditional techniques.

In another case, when talking about computer assembly, they mean selecting skins based on the shade and quality of fur using computer technology, supposedly making it possible to select samples that are ideally similar in these characteristics.

In fact, the use of such equipment for the production of fur clothing is pure myth. Automatic sorting by color and size is used in the largest fur factories and auctions with millions of turnovers of raw materials, but even there this technology is used for rough primary selection, since the machine is not able to determine the subtleties of fur shades.

The use of such methods for the production of clothing does not make sense. The human eye is a much more advanced tool for assessing the nuances of color and texture of fur. All skins for each individual fur coat are selected by hand, and each product acquires its own individuality in the hands of the master.

Thus, the expression “computer assembly” to describe the production of a fur coat is nothing more than a commercial move, and, moreover, not a very honest one.

Misconception No. 3. The inside of a fur coat will tell the buyer about the quality of the product

It is believed that when buying furs, you should definitely consider the reverse side, looking under the lining. This way you can evaluate:

1. Quality of seams

The first and most important thing is that there must be seams! If they are not there, it means that the product is assembled with glue, therefore, there can be no talk about the long service life of such clothing. There should be no breaks. If there are no visible defects, it is difficult for a non-professional to judge the quality of the seam. Moreover, even professionals evaluate the product from the outside.

2. Quality of workmanship

Indeed, workmanship is judged on the inside out, but there are also nuances here that are not obvious to the average buyer. It speaks of poor-quality tanning of hides bad smell, but if it is present, you can feel it from the outside by smelling the fur.

But, if we are talking about factory-made fur coats, low-quality workmanship is now rather an exception. Basically, with factory production it is achieved high level production, and the technologies and preparations used are almost the same everywhere.

3. Natural fur color

It is known that dark color the fur on the inside of the fur coat indicates that the fur was dyed. Now almost all natural fur Brown, be it mink, sable, beaver or muskrat, must be tinted, since the darker the fur, the more valued it is.

But modern technologies dyes such as rainforcing involve bleaching the leather fabric so that it is visually indistinguishable from undyed leather. Therefore, looking at the reverse side in order to determine the naturalness of the color often does not make sense. If the treatment is noticeable, it is only from the outside.

4. Presence of hidden defects

Many buyers believe that if the lining is sewn to the hem of a fur coat, it means that the manufacturer is hiding quality flaws under it.

In fact, this is not necessarily the case. Some models require hemming of the lining to achieve the correct appearance of the product. Short fur coats, or vice versa, long ones with slits and no lining, look sloppy and lose their shape.

In addition, the inner surface of the fur on long coats that is not protected by lining may suffer from dirt, salt and moisture getting on it, which negatively affects the appearance and product durability.

Manufacturers, knowing about the persistent desire of buyers to look under the lining, are meeting them halfway. That's why linings appeared that were fastened with a zipper. Thanks to this, everyone, before buying a fur coat in a store, can evaluate the inner surface of the clothing without violating production technologies.

Misconception No. 4: Dyed fur is always of low quality.

It is believed that the quality of dyed furs is worse. This opinion is outdated. Previously, coloring was used to hide defects; modern technologies allow fur to be dyed for aesthetic purposes.

In modern production, when dyeing skins, they go through more than 20 processing cycles, which in itself speaks of the original high quality of the fur, which can withstand such manipulations.

Therefore, the very fact of fur coloring should not confuse the buyer. If you want to stand out from the crowd, it is quite possible to purchase a natural fur coat of any unprecedented color, without fear that the paint will run after the first exposure to wet snow.

In order to make sure that the color is fast, you need to rub the fur coat on the fur side with a damp cloth or napkin. If it remains clean, it means the fur coat is dyed with high quality. If the paint remains on the fabric, you should, of course, not buy such a fur coat.

Misconception No. 5. Fur coats from the United Arab Emirates are cheaper because they are spoiled by the heat

There is some truth in this statement. It consists in the fact that in the Emirates you can actually buy fur coats at lower prices compared to Russian ones. But the reason for this is rather due to economic factors. The fact is that the customs duty on imports into the UAE is only 5%. In addition, there are no taxes in the country, such as VAT, no control of fire, sanitary inspections and similar organizations, which significantly reduces the selling price of furs.

It is also true that fur deteriorates from exposure high temperatures. However, this does not mean the low quality of the products offered by sellers. The scale of development of the fur business in the country indicates just the opposite.

Sellers are interested in new and new customers, and, accordingly, in the high quality of the goods offered. In hot climates, this is achieved, in particular, by observing storage rules.

Unfortunately, nowadays no one can determine how long a fur coat will last “by eye.”

Because everything depends on the production of fur. It turns out that the majority is buying a pig in a poke. You are lucky if the lining of the fur coat is not completely sewn up or you can see it through the sewn-in zipper. The furrier's stitch and the color of the fur's skin will tell you a lot. But first things first.

How to choose a fur coat?

In order not to make a mistake in choosing fur, you should pay attention to:

• fur density(well made fur product seems tight);
• fur quality(run your hand against the fur - the down should be thick enough, long hairs should not break, the fur should quickly fall into place, the skin should be soft to the touch);
• the wrong side of the product(pieces of fur should be on average 15*15 cm);
• labels with the name and address of the manufacturer(they must be, this gives the product a guarantee; it is important to know what kind of fur (from which animal the fur coat is made) and what type).

- Often a camel is sold for astrakhan fur. They are similar in quality, but the camel has hair sticking out on the back. There are now a lot of shorn beavers, which are actually shorn and dyed jerboas and, says repair specialist for leather and fur products at the House of Public Utilities of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Soligorsk RKBO" Valentina. - Remember, that natural color fur flesh - light, ivory or coffee with milk. But if the fur is dyed, it will also be changed on the reverse side.

When purchasing a fur coat, shake the product. Are the villi shedding too much? Walk by, a moth has eaten your fur coat. But remember that any new fur coat will shed a little hair after the drying procedure.

When evaluating a product, it is also worth listening to it. The fur coat should not “rattle” like oilcloth, otherwise the fur will be burnt. There are glued fur coats on the market, when glue is used instead of seams. Do not under any circumstances buy it. Feel free to squeeze, crumple and pull the pile - good product will survive these manipulations.

- You can identify natural fur by its thickness by running your fingers over it. If the down is thick and the skin is not visible when parting the fur, then the fur is natural. But not always. Nowadays, we have learned to make fakes so skillfully that it can be difficult to determine the origin of the fur, says a specialist in the repair of leather and fur products. - I like old tailoring, fur coats that are several decades old. But since about 2005, they began to make cold fur coats. Many people ask to insulate even a seemingly warm mouton. Yes, and sheared fur now serves little purpose. For example, I am currently working on a goat fur coat from 1995. Only the sleeves and shoulders are worn because the woman carried the bag on her shoulder. Goat fur coats that are produced now are unlikely to boast such wearability in decades.

Of course, any girl and woman will not want to carry extra pounds. outerwear. But if we are talking about fur coats, then some ladies know the heaviness of the product firsthand.

The heaviest furs are mouton and astrakhan furs. After them come the furs of otter and river beaver, blue fox and marten, sable and nutria, as well as fox. The lightest furs are those made from rabbit and hare, squirrel and goat.

How to store a fur coat?

Buying a fur coat is half the battle. In order for it to remain in almost pristine condition for a long time, it needs to be properly cared for. Here are a few rules that will help you not say goodbye to your fur coat after the season:

• remember that fur absorbs any odors well, so do not stay in a fur coat for a long time in smoky rooms;
• It is better to remove any stains from the pile as quickly as possible, since problems may arise with removing old ones;
• To prevent the fur on your side and shoulders from rubbing off, do not wear a tight-fitting bag; also think about whether you need a belt or belt;
• fur is afraid of excess moisture and strong heat, so if it gets caught in wet snow or rain, shake out the fur coat and hang it to dry away from heating appliances;
• You should not dry your fur coat with a hairdryer or iron, and you should also not abuse the heated seats in the car;
• About once every two weeks it would be a good idea to comb the fur coat with a special pin brush for fur coats;
• You need to store your fur coat on hangers in a fabric bag with an anti-moth agent (plastic will “suffocate” the fur);
• Once every two weeks, take the fur coat out of the fabric bag and dry it: winter time- in the cold, in the summer - in a draft;
• at any time of the year, avoid sunlight, it should not get on the fur, otherwise the product will lose color;
• You cannot treat fur with chemicals, so do not take your fur coat to the dry cleaner, but if you wear the fur coat for a long time, then take it to a workshop to clean the lining.

A chinchilla fur coat is considered the most expensive. Then, judging by the dressing of the fur, there is a sable fur coat. The top three most expensive fur coats are “marten”. After the most expensive furs come the furs of silver fox, fox, arctic fox, and only then comes the “mink”.

Try on different styles of fur coats until you find the one that suits you best. But buy fur products wisely, not relying solely on beauty. And store your fur coats correctly, so they will last you longer.

Daria ZANKO

Photo taken from open sources