How to distinguish real mink fur from a fake? Separating a mink from a rabbit

The main suppliers of high-quality outerwear made from natural fur are Greece and Italy. Chinese inexpensive fur coats are also not of poor quality, but they must be checked very carefully. It is best to buy an expensive mink coat made from natural raw materials in an elite specialized market, which is the exclusive distributor of a well-known enterprise for the production of fur outerwear. A large assortment of stylish models of fur coats, which surprise with their sophistication, sparkling shine, amaze with the boldness of shapes and brightness of shades, are made at the Diana Furs brand’s own fur factory in Moscow. The illustrated catalog contains photos of various outfits made from mink fur in the following styles: “poncho”, “cross”, “herringbone”, “ bat"and others fashion models. A short description and technological parameters are located under the photographs of the top women's clothing. The entire technological cycle for the production of high-quality fur clothing from natural raw materials purchased at fur auctions in Northern Canada and Denmark is produced on modern equipment using innovative technology and laser installations.

Natural fur

In severe, forty-degree frosts, which are typical for most of the vast territory of the country from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, women choose outerwear made of natural fur. The best material For the manufacture of clothing from natural fur, North American mink skins are used, which, unlike high-quality fakes, have a long, even pile of rich dark color with a high, soft undercoat of a noble black-brown hue. A high-quality fur product made from natural raw materials retains heat excellently and does not create a greenhouse effect. Hygroscopic natural fur, with good breathability and antiseptic properties, normalizes blood circulation. The same cannot be said about clothes for women, which look just as great, but are made from faux fur. Attractive women's fur coats made from natural raw materials have a wonderful appearance and, unlike high-quality Chinese counterfeits, excellent consumer parameters of wear resistance and hydrophobicity.

Artificial fur

High-quality faux fur is visually very similar to natural fur, which is why it is often used when sewing women's outerwear. It is a textile that imitates natural fur fabric. World fashion experts predict a great future for synthetics, although we can say with confidence that in Russia, especially in regions with a harsh climate, outerwear made from non-natural raw materials is not in high demand. Winter outfits made of faux fur cannot provide good warmth in severe frost, especially in the harsh regions of the Urals, Western Siberia and the Far East, since the fake fur pile does not retain heat well and is blown out in strong, piercing winds. The rather low frost resistance of such a material, which is absolutely unsuitable for extreme weather conditions, is the main disadvantage winter clothes made from faux fur.

How to spot a fake mink coat

Quite expensive fur outfits made from natural valuable Scandinavian mink fur are not purchased very often, so you need to be careful when choosing it. When purchasing a fashionable fur coat for which you have carefully prepared, you need to check the quality of its workmanship. Please read the specific advice from experienced experts so that your purchase is not only beautiful and durable, but also not counterfeit. The pile of the fur fabric from which a real mink coat is assembled should quickly return to its original position after lightly stroking from bottom to top and in the opposite direction. A fairly thick down of a real mink, and the same length of hair characterize the pile of genuine fur on the outside.

The main differences between high-quality Chinese-made mink coats are: the dark leathery base of the fur (mesh) and the glassy sheen of the pile, which does not flow smoothly over the entire surface, like Scandinavian mink, but remains motionless. In addition, the pile of a Chinese fur coat, which has a high awn that stands out, visually appears prickly.

The front surface of a mink coat made of natural fur

A real mink coat looks fashionable, prestigious and provides comfort cold winter due to the dense and thick undercoat. At first glance, it is quite difficult to distinguish a real fur coat from a fake, since they all seem equally beautiful and attractive. Therefore, experts advise that in order to recognize the type and quality of fur, you need to fray it, feel it, and lightly wrinkle it. It must maintain and quickly restore its volume after such fairly simple procedures. To the touch, real fur, unlike fake fur, is dense, smooth, shiny and a little prickly. Its smooth, long fibers do not fall out or break if you run your hand against the direction of their growth. The same height of the fur on the front surface of a mink coat made from natural raw materials is visually absolutely even, and the villi quickly return to their original position. When shaken, the fur coat should not make a dry, rustling sound.

Real mink coat from the inside

The unlined lining of the fur coat makes it possible to examine the back side of the mink skins and evaluate the quality of the flesh. All European manufacturers who value their brand leave the lining unlined. Mezdra – backside natural mink skin should be light tone, elastic and soft to the touch. On the inside, on each skin from which a real fur coat is assembled, there is an imprint of the manufacturer’s signature seal. The print indicates the size of the skin and the name of the natural raw materials used. Fur fabric sewn “unfold” is obtained by sewing together strips of skin cut on a laser device, so the fur will look like a “herringbone”. In any case, carefully check the joints of the fur strips. The seams should be smooth, thin, and visually almost invisible.

Now you know exactly how to distinguish a real mink coat from a fake, and you can choose a magnificent winter outfit made from real natural mink!

1. Wherever you buy a mink coat - in your city or go shopping abroad, the most important thing is to take the time to visit several well-known, trustworthy stores or factories. By examining the products and listening to the opinions of various specialists - sales consultants, you will learn to determine the quality of a mink coat yourself. In addition, this will allow you to choose the right fur coat at the best price. And you can also get a lot of pleasure contemplating your image in the mirror in various variations of mink coats. Perhaps, during the fitting process, your preferences in color and model will change, as you will realize that a completely different image than the one you imagined is more suitable.

How to choose a mink coat and what you should pay attention to:

2. Examine the fur carefully - it should be shiny, smooth, soft with a thick undercoat.

3. How to distinguish quality from fake? Run your hand over the product against the direction of the mink hairs. If after this manipulation the hairs return to their original place and the appearance of the fur coat area has not changed, then the quality of the fur is good; if the hairs bristle after your action, then the fur is of poor quality.

4. Look at the fur, this can be done by blowing on the surface of the fur. If the flesh is light, then the fur has not been dyed or tinted. If the inside is dark, this may mean that either the fur was dyed, or the fur coat was not the first freshness, so to speak - it was stored for a long time in inappropriate conditions. IN in this case the fur coat will not last long.

5. Check the joints of the skins. From the outside, the seams should not stand out too much. Particularly often, poor-quality seams can be noticed on the shoulder section, especially if the fur coat has a hood that covers these joints.

6. How to choose a new fur coat and distinguish it from the old one? Shake the product off; if hairs fly off it, it means the fur coat is old.

7. The lining of a fur coat should be made of high-quality, but not “flashy” material. Her patterns are precisely adjusted to the size of the product. Manufacturer good fur coats always focuses on the fur rather than the lining.

8. The bottom of the lining should not be sewn to the hem so that you can see the product from the inside out. Usually, if the seller is confident in the quality, he himself will offer you to check the fur coat from the inside. You can look at the color of the skin (light is good, dark is dyed). Check the stitching of the seams - it should be neat, there should be no mink hairs in the seam.

9. If you do realize that the fur coat is dyed, this is not the worst thing. Some manufacturers tint products, giving them more noble shades. In this case, the quality of the paint is important. It can be determined as follows - take a light handkerchief, slightly moisten it and rub it over the product. If there are traces of paint on it, do not take this fur coat.

10. Hairs should be the same length (not including the undercoat). If some hairs are different in length from the rest, most likely the mink was trimmed to give it a more neat appearance. This means that initially the fur was not of very high quality.

11. A little about Black Lama. In a real Black Llama, the undercoat has a different color from the main color of the hairs. It is dark brown in color and very dense. And the main hairs are black. Products made from Black Lama mink look like plush. This fur is considered the highest quality and most durable. If you ever see products made from this type of mink, you will understand what the real quality of mink is and will be able to clearly determine it in the future.

After reading our tips, you will easily answer the questions - how to choose a mink coat, how to determine the quality of a mink coat, and how to distinguish a quality coat from a fake. Look also mink coat models, perhaps one of them will become the object of your desire.

In addition to your favorite mink coats - jewelry best friends girls, and

Mink coats rank first in popularity among Russian women. This fur is beautiful, durable, and has good thermal characteristics. But the cost of such a fur coat is not always affordable for women. Many people save for it for several years, purchasing it for more than one year. But some cunning sellers have learned to pass off fake mink as mink. It is very disappointing to purchase the fur coat of your dreams, which turns out to be not made from mink at all, but, for example, from a ferret or marmot. How to distinguish high quality from counterfeit goods and make a purchase that will last for many years?

Basic rules for purchasing high quality fur products

When planning to purchase a fur coat made of natural fur, you should go to a store that has proven itself well and provides the appropriate certificates and guarantees. In pursuit of savings, you should not look for options in the market. You can find fakes there most often, but then it will be difficult to find the ends.

Now we’ll tell you how to distinguish a high-quality mink coat.

• Mink fur is elastic. Run your hand along the pile in the opposite direction. It should return to its original position. Despite its elasticity and rigidity, the fur does not prick.
• Smooth undercoat, awns of the same length. To disguise a fake, sellers often cut the guard hair so that the length is the same. But in this case, the fur will prick.
• There should be no hair left on the hand when pinched.
• Mink skin has a shine. Single white hairs are sometimes visible on undyed pile.
• Run a white cloth over the fur. There should be no traces of paint left on it.
• The height of the pile on the entire product should be the same. There should be no bald spots, bald spots, or bumps.
• Good manufacturers do not hem the lining, giving the opportunity to inspect the quality of the flesh. It should be light or creamy, elastic.
• When shaking, the fur coat should not rattle.
• Check for stamps on each skin. She confirms that this is mink and indicates the size of the piece (at least 15*15 cm).
• Look carefully at the seams. They should be thin, rolled out and even. Skin is sometimes sewn between fragments of skins. The fewer such areas, the more expensive the product. If you notice the glue, it is better to refuse the purchase. The technology in which the skins are glued together rather than stitched will not allow the product to last a long time.

Manufacturer country

Depending on the country in which they are produced, mink coats have several types. Canadian and Scandinavian minks are considered one of the most expensive. They are distinguished by abundant fluff and very thick pile. middle length. The Ukrainian mink is slightly inferior to them. Its underfur is not so thick, and its awn is longer.

Greek fur coats are very popular among Russian women. There is also an opinion that the cost of fur coats is lower in Greece. Some even go on special tours to buy furs. But in any country there are manufacturers like high level, and not entirely conscientious. A high-quality mink fur product will not be cheap. Therefore, it is better not to take risks by making expensive purchases in resort areas.

Russian and Chinese mink coats are much cheaper. Currently, some Chinese manufacturers have also learned to make fur products good quality. But there are also plenty of fakes among them. Therefore, it would be a shame to buy a Chinese fur coat at the price of a Canadian or Greek one. Here are a few signs by which you can distinguish a Chinese fur coat from a European one:

• Ost. Pronounced and very high. Outwardly it seems prickly. It's like she's lying on the pillow. But sometimes the spine does not differ in height. In this case, the skin can be passed off as Scandinavian.
• Shine. Chinese skins do not have a smooth sheen; they seem to shine in areas. They can be recognized by their characteristic glassy sheen. If you compare Chinese and Scandinavian fur coats, even a non-specialist will immediately notice the difference. Scandinavian furs are distinguished by a beautiful diamond shine that seems to shimmer in the sun.
• Undercoat. Depends on the length of the spine. With a long guard, the undercoat is not dense. Sometimes a mink with short hair and long black fur is passed off as a black mink. But natural black mink has a light core, which after dyeing takes on a dark or gray tint.

Based on these indicators, you can understand where the animal was raised. The place where the fur coat was produced is determined by the sewing technology. In most cases, Greek and Italian fur coats are made from Finnish and Scandinavian skins. Russian mink differs from Chinese mink in having thick and long pile, while Scandinavian mink has thick but short pile.

Sometimes the Chinese use Greek furs for tailoring. In this case, quality should be determined by sewing technology.

Mink fakes

The first sign you need to pay attention to is weight. A mink coat is much lighter than any other fur. Often, the manufacturer skillfully disguises a rabbit, marmot, beaver or ferret under an expensive skin. Therefore, you need to know how to distinguish real fur coat from mink from a fake.

• Rabbit. Unlike mink, rabbit fur is very soft and has a non-uniform shade. The mink skin shines evenly. Rabbits have different hair colors. The rabbit's undercoat leaves hair in the hand when pinched.
• Marmot. The groundhog is often passed off as a mink. Their difference is that the marmot has prickly fur, hairs different lengths. Marmot hair is also elastic, but does not have plasticity and can become shaggy when stroked. Mink fur, unlike marmot fur, does not give off a bluish tint in the sun.
• Beaver. Beaver and marmot fur can be confused with each other in terms of their stiffness. But both of them are much tougher than mink. Beaver skins are larger in size than mink. The beaver's flesh is twice as thick as mink.
• Ferret. The ferret, compared to the mink, has a higher spine and sparse underfur. It has a peculiar color: the underfur is light, and the awn is dark at the ends. On the sides, light areas are visible, and on the back, a dark-colored spine completely covers the underfur. By the way, ferret skins are valued not much less than mink. They are less wearable, but warmer. Products are not sewn from ferret skins “unraveled”, because the seams will be visible through the fur due to the sparse fluff. Therefore, models made from this fur are mostly straight cut.
• Honorik. This animal is the result of crossing a mink and a ferret. It is quite difficult to distinguish this fur from real mink. It is distinguished by its black color, shine and thick brown undercoat.

When you go shopping for a fur coat, you shouldn’t rush into making a choice. To find suitable model, you may have to visit more than one specialized store and try on several options. There is no need to be shy about being meticulous in your questions and doubts. Do not refuse consultations from sellers. Try to be attentive to detail. Vigilance will help you make a profitable purchase that you won’t regret.

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 thumb to the middle, and, preferably, with a hood, in this way 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, honorik 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 a 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-shafted 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

Sellers of fur products are ready to go to any lengths to sell goods, including low-quality ones. They offer all kinds of discounts, gifts, free dry cleaning. But you shouldn’t fall for these tricks, otherwise you may be very disappointed after the purchase.

It has already been verified that quality fur coat from mink at proper care can serve the owner for ten seasons. This is pleasing, because a product made from such fur is not cheap. It is better to purchase a fur coat in specialized salons, then the likelihood of purchasing a low-quality item is significantly reduced.

Rules for choosing a fur coat

In order for a fur item to look like new for several seasons, you must adhere to several rules when purchasing.

1. The fur should be shiny and thick. To determine this, you just need to carefully touch the product: the fur should be dense and the skin thick.

2. The next stage of verification mink coat quality must be examined in the light. Nice fur at the same time it will shimmer and flow. You should immediately smell the product; the fur coat should not have any foreign odors or smell musty.

3. Mink should not shed! This is easy to check: you just need to run a damp hand over the fur coat; no hairs should remain on your palm.

4. The fur should not break, even if it is folded in half; the undercoat of a quality product will definitely be thick.

5. The product should not crunch when it is crushed in your hands. If this happens, you can safely refuse the purchase, because the core of such a thing is overdried, and this will lead to rapid wear and tear in the first season.

6. An honest manufacturer never sews a lining to a mink coat. This makes it possible to evaluate the inside of the product. If there are uneven seams, pieces of fur are tightly stretched, there are tears, the item will not last long. And you shouldn't spend money on it.

7. Fur coats made from undyed fur are considered the highest quality and most expensive. This is very easy to determine; you just need to blow on the fur and look at the inside. If it is light, the fur is natural color.

8. Some unscrupulous manufacturers simply remake old products, passing them off as trendy items. But even this is easy to determine: in this case, the mink pieces will be of different sizes, uneven in color, and the fur may fall out in shreds.

Knowing these details, you can easily distinguish a low-quality product from a good mink coat. When purchasing, you should not be guided only by the seller’s recommendations, because his main goal is to sell his product.