Since time immemorial, articles of clothing have been made from animal skins. They helped not freeze. To this day, shepherds in the mountains use sheepskin coats to protect both from the cold and from unbearable heat. Natural fur clothing does not get wet and dries quickly. Therefore, it is able to protect not only from temperature changes, but also from dampness.
What is fur?
If earlier any fur of an animal, taken together with wool and dressed in a special way, was called fur, now only skins of hares, martens, cats, foxes, beavers, deers, servals and astrakhan sheep are so called.
Types of natural fur
All natural fur can be divided into four types.
The first type of fur is long-haired animals. The fur is luxurious, perfectly retaining heat, very beautiful. It:
- Arctic fox (blue and white);
- fox (warm, fiery red);
- wolfish (not very beautiful, looks like a dog, but one of the socks and warmest; its thermal protection is twice as high as that of all furs of this species; suitable for socks in the Far North);
- lynx (rare, expensive);
- badger (not very valuable, rude, but durable and warm);
- raccoon fur (often tinted, valuable, wear-resistant, lightweight, never goes out of style).
The second type is the fur of short-haired animals. Not the most practical and wearable, but quite expensive and elegant. Here you can distinguish such varieties of natural fur, such as:
- ermine (suitable for making royal robes; not suitable for everyday wear, fragile and impractical);
- mink (the most common fur, as it is comfortable, wear-resistant);
- chinchilla (very expensive, thick, light, but fragile);
- protein (soft but not sock);
- sable (dear, warm, practical,);
- ferret (light, resistant to damage, but the pungent unpleasant odor does not disappear even after careful dressing).
The third species is the fur of domestic animals. Their skins are not particularly valuable. To give them the necessary useful qualities, such as wear resistance, practicality and aesthetics, special dressing is required. Although, for example, she does not help rabbit fur. Karakul and Mouton are more valuable because they are resistant to wiping, comfortable, and with special processing and moisture resistance.
The fourth species is the fur of aquatic animals. It is wearable, has excellent water-repellent properties, protects against moisture.
- seal fur - smooth, silky, does not get wet, perfectly cleaned;
- products from the desman are hats, a short coat, things for children; esthetic sock fur that retains heat perfectly;
- No less valuable and durable are beaver fur, muskrat and nutria.
Varieties of fox fur
Not so long ago, the fox began to breed in captivity. This helped to preserve the population of wild species of these animals and fill the market with the necessary amount of raw materials for making clothes. Fox fur is very popular because of its valuable qualities. He is beautiful, warm, practical. And the skins of foxes grown in nurseries compare favorably with wild ones. They are more fluffy, well-groomed.
The following species of foxes are found in the wild:
- Common red. She has a red color, white or black belly.
- Black-brown fox (silver-black).
- Ognevka. Bright orange-red fur with tints.
The wonders of selection
In the process of selection, many shades of fox fur appeared. The ginger color of the skin now has all shades, from yellow to juicy dark ginger. The silver fox has an ebb from barely noticeable to real gray hair.
In this regard, to date, these types of fox fur are distinguished:
- Russian - characterized by not very long soft hair, average skin size. Has a great resemblance to a wild fox.
- American - is distinguished by a longer and stiffer awn, a larger skin size.
- Norwegian - compares favorably with a long pile, thick undercoat, large skin.
- Finnish - the appearance resembles exotic feathers - the outer hair is so long. Thick pile, large skin.
If we talk about the shades of fox fur, then here you can achieve a real exclusivity by changing the color. The fur that is perfectly experiencing dyeing has become a real find for couturiers around the world.
Mink fur
This is the most popular and expensive type of fur. It has long been routine, thanks to its versatility, strength and beauty. In the world of mink skin production, the leading positions are occupied by North American and Scandinavian countries. In Russia, this animal was introduced in the nineteenth century from North America.
Mink is bred in many countries around the world, but one North American breed is at the heart of breeding. Depending on the climate, the ration of the animal and the place of breeding, the type of fur (any) changes significantly, acquiring new properties. Mink fur is also becoming different. Kinds:
- Russian type of mink. This animal was bred in Russia, with a high outer hair and a thick undercoat. The most shaggy of all minks, is not afraid of dampness, protects well in the cold.
- Scandinavian - occupies the lion's share of the global market. The fur of these animals has a medium even spine and a dense underfur.
- Finnish. Mink with this type of fur bred in Northern Europe, is a type of Scandinavian.
- North American. The animals are raised on American and Canadian farms. Their fur is called “velvet”, since the hair and undercoat of this species are the same length.
The result of careful breeding work was the breeding of more than a hundred colors of the natural color of the mink, which can be divided into several groups: beige, white, blue, gold, glou (luminous), dimming and brightening the main color, standard dark brown, standard black, scan black, black , marble, jaguar.
If it is necessary to imitate expensive dark fur, get a golden hue, leopard print or highlight ridges, the skins are painted. Such a mink loses part of its wear-resistant qualities due to the chemicals in the paint.
The plucked mink is very soft to the touch. Pinch - removal of the remaining hairs. All that remains is a soft undercoat, which makes the pile of the skin soft.
Sheared mink - fur with shortened outer hair. Often a haircut is combined with other types of processing, for example, pinching. Using a laser, a textured pattern is applied to the fur.
What fur are fur coats made of?
Fashion designers in their collections demonstrate a huge variety of skins from which fur coats are sewn. Each type of fur has its own distinctive features. But more attention is paid to its manufacture, affecting wear resistance. Dyed fur deteriorates faster than natural.
If we talk about heat-insulating properties, then plucked and sheared, as well as summer fur warm worse. The groundhog and ermine fur are considered to be the coldest unprocessed; they retain heat well - sable, fox, arctic fox, fur seal, chinchilla, nutria, mink.
The most common types of fur for fur coats:
- mink;
- muton;
- Fox;
- Arctic fox
- rabbit;
- nutria;
- sable;
- chinchilla.
The beauty, weight, practicality and warmth of a fur coat directly depends on which animal the clothes are made of and how the raw materials were processed.
What types of fur coats exist ?
The design of outerwear is replete with variety. Different types of fur coats from natural fur can be found in any specialized store. Owners of an elegant figure and high growth were lucky. Such beauties can afford any style. But lush ladies of short stature are not recommended to choose long and voluminous models.
Fur coat butterfly. This is a flared instance of medium length with wide sleeves. May have a hood or collar. It hides well the flaws of the figure, but impractical in severe cold and windy days.
Fur coat-year. Fitted, widens downward. Equipped with a hood that can be worn instead of a hat. The most feminine version, a classic model that does not go out of fashion.
Auto Lady. A shortened version that is up to the waist or hips. It has earned popularity among motorists because of its practicality.
The classic model. Usually, such a fur coat is up to the knee or slightly lower. The silhouette is straight, flared or trapezoidal. There is a hood or collar of any shape.
Manto. The length of the fur coat does not exceed one hundred and ten centimeters. Trapezoidal or flared silhouette. Sleeves and collars can be of any shape.
Cleopatra . Loose fit in the shape of a trapezoid. A distinctive feature of the model is the original inserts on the sleeves and hem.
A correctly selected type of fur coat will help emphasize the advantages and hide the flaws of the figure.
What fur are sheepskin coats made of?
The ancestor of the sheepskin coat was the Russian sheepskin coat, which warmed it in severe frosts and protected it from blizzards. Current sheepskin coats have a more aesthetic appearance, but are not inferior in practicality.
Sheepskin coats are made from sheepskin merino, enterfino and tuscany.
Merino is obtained from fine-fleeced sheep. Such sheep have a thick coat. After proper processing of the skins, the warmest but not enough socks are obtained.
Enterfino's pile is not so thick, so sheepskin coats are not so warm, but more socks.
Tuscany is the best material. From it light, wearable, beautiful sheepskin coats are obtained. In such clothes, it is impossible to freeze in the thirty-degree frost.
For the manufacture of sheepskin coats use not only sheep, but also goat fur. This is a whole skin that is made using the appropriate technology. Clothing from goats is less popular, as it does not protect very well in severe frosts.
Instead of fur coats, many prefer to buy sheepskin coats, the types of fur of which are more sock and warmer.
Faux fur
The use of new technologies in industry has allowed the creation of artificial fur, which is almost impossible to distinguish from natural. For its production, various methods and different textile raw materials are used.
The following types of faux fur are distinguished:
- on a knitted basis;
- on a woven basis;
- with glue fixing of the pile (glued);
- tailoring fur.
Faux fur imitates natural fur so closely that sometimes when buying a thing it is difficult to understand what material the product is made of.
Faux fur has many advantages. It is durable, light and cheap. Also, its use for sewing clothes saves the life of a considerable number of animals.
How to wear real fur?
In order for fur clothing to emphasize the merits of its owner, it is necessary to consider several simple rules when choosing and combining it with the rest of the outfit.
Depending on what types of fur are presented to your attention, you should think about how long it will last. It should be remembered that the most socks are an otter, a beaver and a cat.
The style is selected depending on the characteristics of the figure and physique. It must be remembered that any fur, even with the shortest pile, is fat.
Natural fur products are appropriate everywhere: in the theater, at a party, in a restaurant. Without hesitation, you can put on a fur coat when it gets cold. At more gentle temperatures, you can wear a fur vest, and in the cold, choose clothes more seriously.
What to wear with natural fur?
It is believed that a hat with a fur coat is not worn. A scarf that can be worn as a scarf is better. Thin caps and berets from knitwear look good.
Another important part of the wardrobe is shoes. Boots should overlap with the style of outerwear. It is necessary to strictly observe the uniformity of the style of a fur coat and shoes. It should be comfortable and practical.
The main rule is that only expensive jewelry made of gold, pearls and diamonds can be worn with natural fur. Cheap jewelry here will look out of place.