Choosing Types of Fur Coats, Part Two

In "Choosing Types of Fur Coats, Part One" we discussed the different fur parts that make up a pelt, mink fur and its features, and rabbit fur and its benefits. Other fur types include fox, chinchilla, beaver, raccoon, and many others. Read on to learn more about the types of fur coats created from these many different pelts.

Fox

Fox fur, which comes in many natural colors, can be found all around the world. Its long hair and distinctive coloring give these types of fur coats a high fashion look, making them extremely popular, particularly in the United States and Europe. Fox fur is known for its soft and thick undercoat, complete with long, plush hairs. It wears well and regular professional cleaning helps keep the fur fluffy and full.

These types of fur coats can be found in hues such as:

• Red: The North American fox has long, soft, red hair while the European fur is typically flatter and less silky. The best red fox fur comes from Canada and is deeply furred with a silky, sturdy texture.
• Silver: Silver fox fur has long, sleek, and lightweight fur with deep black undertones and white guard hair tips, which give a vision of silver.
• White and Black: This type of fox has an extremely thick undercoat and shorter guard hairs. Its fur is the softest of all foxes and is an exceptionally dense fur.
• Blue: The blue fox's color is largely white with black highlights. Sometimes they will produce nearly white fur, known as the white or shadow fox. This fur is quite soft and thick, making it optimal for dying.

Typically, the best fox fur comes from Finland, with the exception of Red Fox and Grey Fox. Because of its long hair and thickness, these types of fur coats can be rather bulky, and therefore must be designed by a skillful manufacturer. Different types of fox fur have varying thicknesses. Fox fur is also extremely popular as trim on all types of fur coats, as well as cloth and leather clothing and outerwear.

Chinchilla

Although Chinchilla fur does not offer the array of colors that fox or mink do, it is still considered one of the most beautiful furs in existence. These slate blue or silvery coats offer a luxurious look and velvet-like texture that is so soft it can scarcely be felt when touched with a finger tip. This can be attributed to the more than 80 fibers that grow from each follicle. In comparison, other types of fur coats come from animals that produce fur characterized by only one hair per follicle. Chinchilla is beautiful, but keep in mind that its elegance and desirability is matched by its low durability; it is purely a luxury item and not suited for daily wear.

Other Fur Types

There are several other types of fur coats available, such as Sable, Lynx, Fisher, Fitch, Beaver, Raccoon, Finn Raccoon, Tanuki and many more. However, rabbit, mink, fox and chinchilla fur are considered to be the most prominent and widely available. Be sure to do the necessary research and fully understand the value of each coat you are considering before making the final purchase. Doing so should make buying a fur coat straightforward and rewarding.

Pelt Origin

You should find on the retail tag of every fur garment, the pelt "origin". This is not where the fur garment was made; this is where the material was produced. It is quite normal to buy a fur coat made in the USA from pelts that originated in Denmark, or a fur jacket that was made in Italy from pelts that came from the USA. Pelt origin is important because it can be a signifier of quality. The highest quality mink in the world comes from the USA. The second, in terms of quality is Denmark, and the third is Finland. Below those are mink from Norway, Sweden, China, Canada, Russia. The best Sable and Lynx in the world comes from Russia, Fox from Finland, Beaver from Canada. It is important to point out that the origin, as a signifier of quality, is only a generalized rule with some exceptions, it is not absolute.

Whether or not pelts come from the wild or ranches is typically not denoted. However, it is interesting to note that the better a fur-bearing animal is cared for, the better the quality its fur will be as a material.

Before shopping the various types for fur coats that are available on the market today, understanding each fur type and its benefits is extremely important. Fur coats and other clothing materials are expensive wardrobe investments and educating yourself before purchasing is the only way to be sure that you are getting genuine and quality fur garments.