Scandinavian mink is the most famous and popular fur for fur coats all over the world. Products made from this material are of good quality and look very elegant, expensive and presentable. Therefore, millions of women prefer to buy a chic fur coat for themselves.
Scandinavian mink coats: advantages
Why are there so many fans of Scandinavian mink fur? There are many reasons for this:
- It's very warm. After all, its guard villi are long throughout the entire skin. This protects even from severe frosts.
- Scandinavian mink fur undergoes careful control before sale. Accordingly, all products made from it are of high quality.
- The most popular fur coats are made from black Scandinavian mink. Shiny, smooth, stylish, they look incredibly luxurious. It’s not for nothing that such products are called “black diamonds.”
- The underfur of this fur is dense and beautiful.
- Scandinavian mink is wear-resistant.
- This fur is waterproof, which is important for the domestic climate.
Kinds
There are several varieties of Scandinavian mink:
- Danish selection, or Kopenhagen Furs. This fur has a smooth, very delicate and rather low spine.
- The Finnish selection, or Saga Furs, has a rough awn and a fairly high pile height.
- "Mixed" Scandinavian mink. For example, a popular option is “Danish corduroy”. Externally, this species is similar to the fur of the North American selection.
High-quality Scandinavian mink is most often sold in Copenhagen, at the Kopenhagen Furs auction. The best options:
- SAGA Royal Mink is considered an exclusive fur.
- SAGA Mink is first grade fur.
Livestock breeders who breed Scandinavian mink have bred a huge number of different natural colors the fur of this animal. The most famous and in demand on the market today are brown with a black tint and dark brown. Special attention uses Scanblack - these skins make a simply gorgeous mink coat! Scandinavian mink of this color has a pure black tone. Allow only a slight coffee tint.
How to choose?
If you are going to buy a fur coat from a Scandinavian mink, then it is worth remembering that although the Finnish selection has higher fur, its underfur is rare. Therefore, such a fur coat is suitable for mild climates and snowless winters. Do you want to buy a warm product that will save you from frost? Then you should take a closer look at the Danish selection.
All mink coats made from Scandinavian mink are of high quality. But you need to buy them in trusted salons and official stores. This will guarantee the absence of counterfeits.
Fashionable fur coats
Today, models of fur coats made from Scandinavian mink in pastel shades are at the peak of popularity. In addition, contrasting options are on trend, complemented by elegant black lines.
"Stardust" - too fashion models. Dark mink fur is decorated with light fibers. The effect is amazing. And such fur coats look expensive and elegant.
If the choice fell on dark shades, then you should pay attention to the following colors:
- Luxurious black.
- Soft chocolate.
- Nice grey.
- Glamorous graphite.
A wide variety of fur coats are made from Scandinavian mink:
- Manto.
- Bow-tie fur coats.
- Classic models.
- Chanel style styles.
Both long and short models are in trend. Sleeves can also have different lengths. Therefore, every representative of the fair sex today will be able to choose a beautiful mink coat for herself. The main thing is that it emphasizes all the advantages of the figure, hides flaws and fits perfectly into the overall style of clothing.
How to wear?
Fur coats made from Scandinavian mink are rightfully considered a real luxury. That’s why it’s worth wearing them with the right accessories.
- Knitted scarves are prohibited.
- We'll have to give up colored stoles.
- A scarf made of fine wool will do.
- Light scarves made of natural fabric are best suited to such a mink coat.
- A neat and elegant hat is the best headdress to go with a fur coat.
- You can choose a small hat that will be devoid of additional decorations.
- If the fur coat has short sleeves, it must be supplemented with long gloves. It would be better if they were leather.
- Shoes for a Scandinavian mink coat should be of high quality, expensive and elegant. Low boots, shoes, boots - it is important that they have a platform or thin heel.
Scandinavian mink: how to distinguish a fake?
When you come to the store to buy a fur coat, you shouldn’t buy it right away. The product must be checked carefully. After all, deceptions happen. How to understand that this is a real Scandinavian mink? How to distinguish a fake?
First, you should look at the weight of the product. A fur coat made from mink is much lighter than from any other fur. Most often craftsmen skillfully disguise a ferret, rabbit, beaver or marmot as an expensive product. That is why it is important not to make a mistake in your choice, so as not to purchase a fake. What criteria should you pay attention to?
- The marmot has prickly fur, but wool can be different lengths. When stroking such a pile will become shaggy. After all, it is not plastic. In the sun, the marmot's fur glows blue.
- The rabbit has soft pile. At the same time, the shade over the entire surface of the skin is uneven. If you pluck the undercoat, some of the hairs will remain in your hands.
- Beaver fur is much coarser than mink. And the skin of this animal is larger. Therefore, it is important to look under the lining before purchasing the product.
- Honorik is also often passed off as a mink. After all, this animal is obtained by crossing a ferret and a mink itself. It can be incredibly difficult to spot a fake. A completely black color and a rather thick brown undercoat will help give away the deception.
- The ferret's fur is distinguished by a high awn and sparse underfur. The animal has a rather unusual color. You can easily spot a fake using it. The underfur of such fur is light, and the awn at the ends has dark shade. Only straight cut models are made from ferret. IN otherwise the seams will show through.
There is no need to rush into choosing and purchasing a Scandinavian mink coat. It’s better to visit several stores, ask consultants about all the nuances, and dispel doubts. It is important to be very attentive to every little detail. Then the purchase will be really profitable. And a real Scandinavian mink coat will last for decades.
It’s the last days of September on the calendar, and fur coat shops are gradually starting to get excited. It will reach its peak in November-December, with the first fluffy snow falling and temperatures dropping below zero. In different parts of our country, the cold season occurs differently. In some regions the temperature rarely drops below minus five to ten degrees, while in others there are frosts of thirty and forty degrees.
In winter weather you need to dress warmly, and a great option is an incredibly light and warm mink coat. You can read about how to choose a mink coat in my article, but today we will talk about what types of mink fur exist, as well as about different color schemes - practical and not very practical.
Which mink fur is best?
On sale you can find mink fur of various origins: Russian, Scandinavian, North American and Chinese. Mink fur can have different qualities depending on the growing conditions and diet of the animals. Today, minks are bred in many countries: Russia, Canada, USA, Finland, Scandinavia, Poland, Holland, the Baltic states and China.
Russian mink
The Russian mink was bred in 1928 in the territory Soviet Union in order to obtain warmer fur for the production of fur coats that could be worn in the harsh Russian winter. Today, long fur coats are most often made from Russian mink.
This fur is actually quite different from Scandinavian and North American fur due to its high undercoat and longer hair. Products made from Russian mink are a little shaggy, but they are absolutely not afraid of moisture, frost and are very, very warm. Russian mink has a beautiful shine and is highly silky.
Contrary to popular belief, Russian mink is bred not only in Russia. The Belarusian and Baltic mink are subspecies of the Russian mink.
Russian mink is half the price of North American mink, despite the fact that the quality, dressing, size and color may be equivalent.
Scandinavian mink
The most common farmed mink on the planet is the Scandinavian mink. It accounts for as much as 80% of the world mink market. It is grown in northern Europe: Finland and Scandinavia.
Scandinavian fur is distinguished by a very thick undercoat and pile. middle length, although there are several varieties of Scandinavian mink. There is both low fur (Denmark, Kopenhagen Furs) and high fur (Finland, Saga Furs).
Another variety of Scandinavian mink is “ polar mink. This is a mink Brown with very thick undercoat and long fur Outwardly it looks more like a sable than a mink.
Finnish mink (Saga Furs), as mentioned above, is distinguished by long pile and not very thick undercoat. This is an auction fur that is bought at the Finnish Furs Sales in Helsinki. Skins in perfect condition are designated Saga Royal Mink, skins of good quality are labeled “Saga Mink”. The quality of the fur is determined through a rigorous selection process - out of one and a half million skins, only three thousand will receive the title of Saga Royal Mink, and ten thousand Saga Mink. As you understand, the prices for such elite fur are very, very high.
Danish mink (Kopenhagen Furs) differs in lower pile. From this manufacturer you can find different selections: short-haired “corduroy”, as well as Danish mink with taller fur. Fur from Kopenhahen Furs is one of the most wearable and lightest. It has a wide color spectrum. Danish auction Kopenhagen Furs offers various markings for skins. Kopenhagen Purple is the highest quality, Kopenhagen Platinum is the highest grade mink, Kopenhagen Burgundy is medium quality, Kopenhagen Ivory is the lowest quality.
North American mink
North American mink is a velvety mink with a low and silky pile, as well as a thick and dense underfur. This is fur of very high quality and beautiful appearance. You can also find mink with super-short pile on sale - to this day such mink is considered an exclusive offer and is very expensive.
American mink (AMERICAN LEGEND®MINK). American brands Blackglama and American Legend select only the highest quality North American mink skins. The Blackglama label is used to mark only black mink highest quality. Today Blackglama is the most recognizable fur brand in the world, because it is the best black mink in the world.
Canadian mink (NAFA®MINK). Nafa North American Fur Auction also selects the highest quality North American mink pelts. Canadian black fur itself best quality labeled "Black Nafa". This label is distinguished by a unique degree of security against counterfeiting, as well as a serial number.
Chinese mink
Recently, inexpensive mink coats of Chinese origin can often be found in stores. Most often these are skins with a not too thick undercoat and long hair. IN in kind Chinese skins are rarely used due to a lack of commercial qualities and too large production volumes, so the fur is fully dyed, sheared, plucked and only then sewn into fur products.
Chinese mink- the same mink, it’s just that its quality is often worse, which is the reason for such a low cost. Remember, you quality fur coat Fur should not come out if you lightly pinch the fur coat. If you run a damp cloth over the fur, it should not stain. If you run your hand over the fur against the grain, the fur should not break, but should easily return to its place. If the fur is sparse and the down is thin, it is better not to buy such a fur coat.
Thus, if we make a kind of rating of mink fur, then the places will be distributed as follows: 1. North American mink; 2. Scandinavian and Russian mink; 3. Chinese mink. A good product always costs a lot of money, and if you are willing to overpay and purchase the product in a store, then give preference to products with quality certificates.
First of all, decide how you will wear a fur coat and why you need it. If this is a thing for every day, you should consider fur coats below the knees, with long sleeve, covering the thumb to the middle, and, preferably, with a hood, in this you will not be afraid of any frost. The undercoat of such a fur coat should be thick and dense, which will affect its weight, but will provide the necessary comfort in winter. For executive purposes or for driving a car, you can purchase a short fur coat or short fur coat, with ¾ sleeves, which will need to be worn with long gloves.
Since mink fur is quite expensive, there is always a danger that they will try to sell you a fake mink coat, passing it off as a dyed rabbit, honor dog or marmot. A specialist, of course, can easily distinguish a fake, but an inexperienced buyer can be deceived. In addition, the quality of fur and tailoring greatly depends on the country of origin; the bulk of these products on the market are from Italy and Greece; recently, Chinese fur coats of good quality have appeared, but in this case it should be checked especially meticulously. Therefore, it is best to buy a mink coat not at the clothing market, but in a reputable salon or store specializing in the sale of fur products. In this case, you will receive guarantees that the fur is real, and the opportunity to return the fur coat if a defect is discovered.
Mink coat outside
At first glance, all the fur coats hanging on hangers in the store will seem equally attractive to you. To recognize the quality of the fur, you don’t need to look at the fur coat, but rather feel it thoroughly and even slightly wrinkle and fray it. To the touch, mink fur should be dense, smooth, shiny and slightly prickly, unlike the fur of a rabbit or goat, for example. It should be voluminous and retain this volume if you press the fur with your hand and then release it. Run your hand against the direction of growth of the villi - they should not break or fall out. Rub the fur with a piece of white wet wipes– there should be no traces of paint left on it.
Shake the fur coat so that the fibers lie evenly. On its entire surface, the height of the fur cover should be the same, no bald spots, bumps, bald patches, or the effect of “uneven haircut” - this happens when the animal’s fur is damaged as a result of a showdown with relatives living with it in the same cage. And, by the way, very often rust spots from the rods, the cells remain on the fur, and you cannot remove them, incl. Make sure that the fur coat is colored evenly. The length of mink fur can be different - depending on the breed and gender, there are long-shafted and short-haired fur. A short-shafted one will last longer and will cost a little more.
Myths and truth about mink coats
- More details
Please keep in mind that if you find any defects that are not noticeable when worn, you are entitled to a discount.
Mink coat from inside
European manufacturers often leave the fur lining unlined so that you can evaluate the workmanship and quality of the fur - reverse side mink skins. If the mink is unpainted, the flesh should be light color, Ivory or creamy, soft and elastic to the touch. Shake the fur coat - there should be no dry, “rattle” sound. Each skin must have a stamp confirming that it is mink; the size of the pieces from which the expensive product is sewn must not be less than 15x15 cm.
There is a technology in which fragments of fur fabric are not sewn together, but glued together; such a fur coat can literally fall apart after just two years of wear. Therefore, carefully examine the seams; they should be thin, even and rolled out, which makes them completely invisible in the product. Sometimes you can hear that a fur coat is sewn “unfold”, this means that for a better fit the skins are cut with a laser and then sewn together. In this case, a herringbone pattern will be noticeable on the flesh. Pieces of leather can be sewn between the pieces of fur; the fewer there are, the more expensive the fur coat is.
If the lining of a fur coat is sewn on, and the seller refuses to open it for inspection, it is better to refrain from purchasing such a product
Look at yourself in the mirror
Fur coats in light colors are refreshing, but, as a rule, they do not suit women of the northern type - fair-skinned and fair-haired. The length and style of the fur coat should also match your body type. If you are of average height or shorter, it is better not to buy a toe-length fur coat; of course, it will be warm, but you will look too small. A trapezoidal fur coat mid-knee length or slightly below will make you slim and elegant. Tall women should avoid wearing clothes that are too wide. loose fit so as not to look too bulky.
Fasten the fur coat, check how all the fasteners and buttons work, how well they are fixed on the product decorative elements. A conscientious manufacturer always pays no less attention to the quality of accessories than to the tailoring of the product itself.
Rules for storing mink fur coats
- More details
Before you go shopping for a mink coat, find out how to distinguish mink from a fake and decide where you will wear it. The style, length of the fur coat and even its color depend on this.
If you wear it every day, choose a knee-length model, as it is more practical. The sleeves of such a fur coat should reach to the middle thumb. This way you won't freeze.
If you drive, then the length of the product should be minimal and the sleeves short. In this case, pay attention to . To avoid freezing, wear such a fur coat with high leather gloves. You can read how to choose gloves for a fur coat.
How to determine the authenticity of fur?
You can distinguish a mink from a craft with the help of simple manipulations. Moreover, this can be done right in the store, at the time of fitting. Well, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is reasonable to ask the seller to provide a certificate of quality for the fur product and a guarantee under which you can return the product back if any defect is detected.
Action plan:
- Firstly, run your hand against the growth of the hairs, this way you will determine the degree of its softness. If you feel that it is soft enough and not prickly and easily returns to its original position, you have a mink in front of you. Well, if the fur turns out to be tough and unyielding and bristles in all directions, then perhaps this beaver or Mongolian marmot fur. This is how you can distinguish real mink fur from a fake.
- Secondly, the guard hairs of mink fur are the same length, while the hair lengths of rabbits and marmots are different. To distinguish real mink fur from rabbit fur, run your palm against the growth of the hairs. If the fur is too soft, easily wrinkles and breaks, and the flesh is too thin, it is definitely a rabbit. Well, the main difference between mink and rabbit fur is that mink is more wear-resistant.
To protect yourself from counterfeiting, look at the label attached to the fur product. On English language The word mink is written as mink, and in French as vison. If it says that it is weasel or kolynsky, then it is a rabbit or a marmot.
- Thirdly, check out the prices. High-quality fur products have always had a high price. A cheap fur coat will never look impressive and will not last you long.
Why is mink fur so expensive?
As a rule, the cost of skins is determined based on their quality: that is, the fur should be silky, thick, and the flesh should not break. To achieve such quality fur, farmers who breed these animals must feed them with high-quality food and not skimp on their maintenance. Based on the above, the cost of fur increases.
Another expense item is the cost of sewing a fur product and trade margins. In addition, the fur coat may turn out to be worn and even stolen, which is why always ask for a product certificate and never buy a cheap mink coat. This way you will protect yourself not only from fakes, but also from low-quality items.
At the time of buying mink coat beware of fakes. A high quality fur product is not light. When you try it on, you will feel a slight heaviness on your shoulders. And vice versa, a fur coat made from stretched skins will be light, but will not warm you in cold weather, because its fur is rare.
Looking under the lining, pay attention to the interior. Mink skin has the shape of a trapezoid, beaver skin has the shape of a heart, nutria has a square shape, and muskrat has a hexagon shape. In appearance, the flesh should be light and not rustle when you squeeze it. If it has darkened and feels hard to the touch, then most likely it is overdried or old, which means it will not last you long.
Another way in which you can determine whether it is fake or not is try to pinch off a tuft of fur. Ideally, you should not have any lint of fur between your toes. By the way, if, after looking closely at the fur, you find that there are gray fibers in it, this indicates that the fur did not lend itself to dyeing.
How is the cost of a fur product determined?
By the way, about the colors of furs. Did you know that the cost of a natural fur coat is affected by the color of its fur?
- So, light brown mink is the most budget option.
- Dark brown and red shades of fur are a little more expensive.
- Black, beige and gray furs are more expensive.
- They are followed by white and tourmaline (beige fur with brown hair).
- Well, the most expensive fur color is “black diamond,” which is characterized by purple, black and blue tints.
Finally
If you do not want to be deceived, you should not buy a mink coat in a little-known boutique or market. Such expensive purchases as a mink coat are best made in a good reputable boutique or fur factory.
Now you know what methods you can use to distinguish real mink from a fake. Happy shopping! Well, in conclusion, we invite you to watch a video in which the girl shares her experience:
And it costs a lot of money, so the purchase must be treated with special care. After all, a thing will last more than ten years, and it’s a shame when a fake is purchased at a high cost. To avoid this, let’s figure out how to choose natural fur.
Where to buy a mink coat?
Perhaps, main question. It is better to purchase the product in specialized stores. There you will receive a warranty card, care instructions and a quality certificate.
If the purchase is made via the Internet, the situation is much more complicated, because the fur coat cannot be touched, examined and, most importantly, tried on. It remains to rely on the integrity of the chosen seller.
Where are you less likely to buy a fake?
Of course, even in a store you can buy low-quality goods, but still less likely than at a market counter. It's worth buying a mink coat:
- In large chain stores. The seller will value his reputation and will not allow the sale of counterfeits.
- In factory stores. The manufacturer will not neglect the trust of customers; moreover, the products will have reasonable prices.
- Outside the country. Fur, purchased in Europe, China and Latin America, are famous for their high quality.
The seller will provide a guarantee and So, we have decided on the place of purchase. Let's start discussing the main question: how to distinguish a fake mink coat?
The first sign of a fake
Low cost. High-quality fur will not be cheap. An exception may be low-paid physical work, but this is unlikely. But for poor quality and tailoring, the product may be discounted. Therefore, if you do not want to freeze in very coldy and shed tears while watching the fur coat come apart at the seams, you will have to shell out a considerable amount of money to purchase a quality product. And yet, how to distinguish a fake mink coat?
The mink will shimmer and shine. If this effect does not exist, and the fibers still stick together, it means that the production technology was not followed. We will figure out how to distinguish a mink coat from a fake, but first we will consider possible defects:
- If a fur coat is unevenly colored, has scuffs and faded spots, this indicates that it was made from old, unsuitable material.
- The presence of red spots that cannot be gotten rid of (present on fur coats due to the fact that minks are kept in iron cages).
- Uneven fibers. The picture looks like a sloppy haircut.
- If the fur feels like parchment to the touch, it means the fur is dry and will soon crack and fall apart.
If at least one of these defects is detected, you should not buy the product. Before we get down to the question of how to distinguish a real mink coat from a fake, let's talk about ways to check fur for quality.
How to do this and is it worth it?
Of course, yes, even if you do not find any visible defects, this does not mean that they are absent. Unscrupulous manufacturers use any methods to hide defects by coloring faded spots or covering hairs special varnish to add shine and shine.
So, on to the tips:
- Use your hand to lift the hairs against their growth. The villi should return to their original position without creases or depressions. And there will be no hairs or fluff left on your palms.
- Part the fur. A quality product has a light core. A dark base means the fur has been dyed or the skins have not been stored properly.
- No joints should be visible. You can determine the quality of seams that need to be made with strong threads in the area of the shoulder line and collar area of the product by pulling the seams to the sides.
- Pierce the inside of the product with a needle and pull the hole; if it does not enlarge, the fur is of high quality.
- The undercoat should be soft to the touch, not scratchy and thick.
- Go over the fur with a damp piece of cloth. Remaining traces of paint indicate that the product is of poor quality.
- Uneven pile indicates that the fur has been trimmed.
- Smell the fur coat; there should be no animal odor or chemical impurities; an unobtrusive scent of the cleaning composition is acceptable.
To begin with, we note that mink coats are sewn from pieces no more than fifteen centimeters in length. They will be light. The fur is silky and soft and will not shimmer blue in the sun. So, let's figure out how to distinguish a natural mink coat from a fake.
Often the seller passes off a rabbit or groundhog as natural mink. An untrained buyer will not be able to discern the difference, because the pile has similar characteristics, soft and fluffy. And at the same time, mink fur is thicker, while rabbit fur is sparse, has almost no down, and if you squeeze it between your fingers, it becomes intangible.
Difference between mink and marmot
How to distinguish a mink coat from a fake? The products have similar appearance, but a different texture to the touch. The marmot has hairs of varying lengths; this is easily visible when stroking the fur against the growth of the fur. The marmot's pile will not return to its original position and will become shaggy. The difference is easy to notice: a colored marmot is characterized by a blue or purple tint.
How to distinguish an honorik from a mink?
The first was obtained by crossing a ferret and a mink, larger in size than the parents, similar to a sable. The first thing that distinguishes them is color. The honorik's fur color is dark and the fluff is much lighter, while the mink, as we already know, has the same fur color. And don’t forget about the size of the sewn pieces; for mink it is much smaller. This is if the product is not sewn from small shreds. Let's look at the photo to see how to distinguish a mink coat from a fake.
Something else to watch out for faux fur, which looks natural. And in this case, how to distinguish a mink coat from a fake? Everything is very simple here, fake fur is sewn onto a fabric base. Just look at the inside of the product. How can you determine the quality of mink lining?
It deserves no less attention when purchasing than the fur itself:
- The lining must be of high strength and quality. As a rule, natural silk is used.
- It is the “second skin” of outerwear; when moving, the fur does not bristle.
- At the bottom, the lining is not sewn to the fur coat itself, which gives access to the underside of the skins. Natural flesh white, and a yellowish tint indicates that the fur is old.
- The seams are made smoothly and with high quality, well processed and durable.
- And along the edge there is a finishing in the form of a cord.
So, we have found out what you should pay attention to when buying a mink coat, and now we will look in more detail at tips to avoid buying a fake.
Let's sum it up
How to distinguish a fake from an original mink coat:
- The first thing to start with is to feel the product. Remember that the fur should be dry and uniform, pleasant and soft to the touch, you will no longer want to let it out of your hands.
- Pull the hairs. They must sit tight.
- Mink fur always shines; if it is not dyed, there are white fibers.
- The guard hairs should be smooth and equal in length.
- The mink has an underfur.
- High-quality fur does not make any sounds when moving.
- Pay attention to the tailoring. The fur coat must be stitched with line seams, which are checked from the back of the product. Make sure there are no traces of glue.
- The flesh should be thin and elastic.
- A product made from natural mink is light, but not quite.
- The lining on the bottom is never sewn to the fur coat.
And also look at the labeling, which indicates full information about the manufacturer and operating instructions. So, we figured out how to distinguish a fake mink coat. These simple recommendations will help you choose a quality product.
