How to distinguish a Chinese mink coat from European, Russian, Greek, Scandinavian? How to choose a quality mink coat? How to distinguish cheap fur from expensive one?

A mink coat is a necessary wardrobe item for every modern woman. It is the fur of this animal that is considered one of the most expensive, beautiful and elegant, and products made from it are a sign of good taste and prosperity. To buy a truly high-quality mink coat, you need to be able to distinguish real mink fur from a fake; to do this, pay attention to several important points.

Features of modern mink coats made in China

First of all, it should be noted that today, when sewing mink fur products, Chinese factories use high-quality raw materials and patterns that meet European standards. It is also worth noting that the factories themselves are equipped with the latest technology, and all staff have undergone appropriate training.

Dyed fur coat

Along with the advantages, some negative nuances, however, remain. First of all, we are talking about the fact that in China there are no conditions necessary for breeding and raising animals, whose fur is used to sew fur products. This feature is the main reason that animals are almost constantly exposed to open fur, and their fur fades, becomes brittle and, as a result, the fur coats themselves do not always retain an attractive appearance for a long time.

Beautiful fur coat

As for the price, it is significantly lower than for European-made products. As a rule, the difference in cost reaches 50% in winter and up to 80% in late winter and early spring. Of course, Chinese fur products sold in Russia and other countries, although they have a difference in price, are by no means so colossal.

In order not to be inferior in quality to their European competitors, in recent years, Chinese manufacturers have begun to enter into agreements to purchase fur from Canadian breeders. This approach forced them to slightly change their pricing policy, increasing the cost of finished products, but, nevertheless, the price remained quite low, which is confirmed by customer reviews. As for the appearance, it is in no way inferior to products from Italy and other countries, as can be seen in the photo.

It is also worth noting that not all fur products produced in China are sold domestically. The majority of them are exported to countries near and far abroad. As a result, in countries such as Germany, Italy, Turkey and many others you can find the same Chinese mink coats, but they have already “changed” their manufacturer. In other words, products imported from China can be sold under the brand of a European plant.

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 severe frosts and shed tears while watching your 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 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 distinguish a Chinese mink coat from a European, Scandinavian, Greek one?

It is worth noting that basically the same type of mink is bred on all farms, this is American. Only depending on the habitat and nutrition, the skins are of different quality. In addition, the quality of production of the finished product also differs. Thanks to these signs, it is possible to determine where the Chinese mink is and where the European one is.

Features of Scandinavian and Chinese mink:

It is worth noting that Scandinavian minks are considered the most expensive and high-quality. This is due to the fact that they have a very thick undercoat, as well as a medium-length awn. Thanks to this, the fur coat turns out to be very fluffy and also warm.
Scandinavian fur coats are considered one of the highest quality and most expensive. This is due to the fact that Scandinavian companies have strict quality control, so skins with any defects are never used to make expensive fur coats. Quite often, Chinese sellers try to pass off their products as Scandinavian or European.
Scandinavian and European mink are much more expensive and are characterized by very high quality. The same cannot be said about Chinese fur coats. This is due to the fact that with the development of industry in China, various farms that raise mink have become extremely popular. But the fact is that almost nowhere on farms are there specialists who would teach how to properly remove this skin, clean it, in order to get rid of a huge number of defects.
Accordingly, almost every farm has its own special type of mink, which is then cut, dyed, sewn and sold in various stores. Most often, Chinese mink is cheap, but is not of high quality. Often during sewing, glued joints are used rather than stitching pieces together. The Chinese mink differs from the Scandinavian mink in that it has a rather high awn and a thick undercoat.
But at the same time, the fur coat itself is distinguished by some kind of peculiar, glassy sheen. At the same time, due to the fact that the hairs are quite long, if you touch them with your hand, they are quite difficult to return to their previous position. But in some farms there is so-called substandard material, these are skins with short guard hair and thick undercoat. They are what are passed off as expensive Scandinavian products.
But there are several ways to distinguish these fur coats from each other. The fact is that the manufacturer, who is responsible for the quality of its products, leaves the lining unlined. This makes it possible to look at the products from the reverse side. That is, the manufacturer shows that he has nothing to hide, and he fully guarantees the quality of his product. That is, in this way, by unscrewing the lining, you have the opportunity to see how the skins are sewn.

Chinese mink

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 even 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 provides complete 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.

Mink fur is beautiful, warm and wearable - it is both a salvation from severe cold and an indicator of the status of the owner. Mink coats are always fashionable, always expensive and at the same time always in demand.

Such popularity of mink coats could not go unnoticed by lovers of easy money, so counterfeits of excellent fur, alas, are not uncommon. Under the guise of a Shanghai leopard, they are unlikely to sell you much better fur, and it will be quite difficult to identify a fake: masters of the genre have in their arsenal more serious counterfeiting tools than watercolor paints. If you are planning to buy a fur coat or other mink product, it is better to learn a little more about this fur and be sure to avoid fakes.

Place of purchase

The more reputable the place where you buy your fur coat, the more confident you can be that you will get exactly what you want. Go to reputable stores to choose furs. Another indicator that should give you pause is the extremely low price. Do not rush to rejoice at the opportunity to purchase a good thing inexpensively, but instead take a closer look at the product. However, it’s worth doing this even if you buy furs in a good store.

Rabbits and marmots

Often less expensive fur is passed off as mink, usually rabbit or marmot. To avoid mistakes, run your hand over the fur: mink fur is soft to the touch and elastic, it will immediately return to its previous position. The fur should under no circumstances be prickly.

Examine the undercoat; in a mink it is dense and even, just like the needle-like guard hair.

A rabbit and a marmot will be much softer; such fur, if stroked against the grain, will not return to its original shape, and its frame will be uneven. Often, manufacturers of fakes trim the frame to give the fur a mink-like appearance. This trick is also easy to reveal - the shorn frame is prickly. In general, to determine the authenticity of a mink, iron it.

Made in China

No matter how you feel about Chinese goods (they are also quite high quality), mink produced in China must be approached with caution. A Chinese mink usually turns out to be a tarbagan (Mongolian marmot), its pile is stiffer, and when stroked it puffs up. They may explain to you that this fur coat is made from wild steppe mink. Don't listen. The mink does not live in the steppes and does not yet plan to move, but the tarbagan lives there.

Inside out

In order not to doubt the correctness of your choice, inspect the underside of the fur (on the back of the product at the bottom, the lining should move away from the fur). Inspect the seams - they should be very neat. If instead of seams there is glue, then you should definitely refuse to buy such a fur coat.

Mink skin should be light - white or cream. But you shouldn’t draw conclusions based on this sign alone: modern craftsmen paint the skin a lighter color.

Quality checking

However, even if the mink is natural, it is far from certain that it is worth buying. If the dressing technology has not been maintained, the fur will not demonstrate the wear and tear characteristic of mink. Pinch the fur (not too hard). There shouldn't be a lint left in your hands. Only in this case does it make sense to purchase the product. If there is something left (fluff or hairs - it doesn’t matter), don’t doubt it - the fur will start to come out very quickly.

When buying dyed mink, also check the quality of the dyeing. For this you will need a white scarf. You need to squeeze the fur tightly through the scarf, and then examine it. If the slightest traces of paint remain on it, it is also better not to buy such a mink.

Undoubtedly, Greek mink coats are superior to Chinese products. Such a fur coat will be of the best quality, and its appearance will not lose its beauty over time. But in practice it is quite difficult to distinguish a Greek mink coat from a Chinese one. And if a person does not know how to distinguish a fake, then he risks being deceived, and in the end he will regret his purchase.

Where can I buy

I decided to look at mink coats on Aliexpress, it turned out that the choice is quite large, but there are catastrophically few customer reviews.

I wanted to buy a classic model about 100 cm long in a light color, sewn from transverse stripes. As a result, I found a store where I saw the desired model and positive reviews with real photos.

I corresponded with the seller for about a week, clarified all the details, bargained and finally decided to place an order. We agreed on a price of 49,971.39 rubles or 735 dollars, the seller reluctantly made a discount, explaining that even on Black Friday this product costs at least 800 dollars. I got the order on this page on Aliexpress.

I asked the seller about the availability of a certificate for fur products, but he didn’t answer me anything intelligible, he didn’t even send me a photo of the certificate in Chinese, but he assured me that the quality of the fur was excellent and sent me real photos of the fur coat.

Buy from those who are trustworthy

Real American, Scandinavian, Greek mink coats are sold in specialized fur salons and retail outlets from large fur factories. Sellers of this level guarantee the quality of fur and tailoring and provide a significant guarantee. A certificate is issued for each product; its data matches the information on the fur coat tag. On a fake, the tag may say weasel (Rabbit), kolynsky (marmot). A person who does not know English may not pay attention to this. The seller, naturally, will not explain. A real mink tag may only say mink (mink in English) or vison (French).

There are many differences between fake and real mink. To avoid becoming a victim of scammers, you need to study them. A little time, scrupulousness, careful reading of the documentation, and a long-awaited natural product will appear in your wardrobe.

A mink hat is the best companion in the cold. The primacy of this fur is undeniable. Beautiful, warm, fashionable, it confirms the owner’s desire to surround himself with cozy, quality things. Unfortunately, the more expensive the headdress, the more fakes there are. Therefore, you should choose a mink carefully.

Chinese fur coats: pros and cons

The advantages of Chinese-made fur coats include their relatively low cost. This puts some buyers off. However, you should not be distrustful of the Chinese manufacturer, because more than 50% of European fur clothing brands trust it.

Let's see how the production process works in Chinese fur factories. All products have appropriate quality certificates. To sew fur coats, we use high quality fur purchased at fur auctions. Modern technologies are used in production.

Fur factories in China

As mentioned above, furs for sewing clothes are bought at fur auctions. Since the Chinese do not breed fur-bearing animals in their country, they mainly purchase raw materials from Russia and Canada.

It is precisely because fur is purchased at world auctions that the buyer does not have to worry about its quality. The Chinese use high-quality fur purchased from other countries as material for further production. Fur coats sewn in their factories are in no way inferior to Russian, Greek, Italian or Turkish, because the technology is practically the same.

Price

Transformable mink coat.
Discounted price: RUB 21,808.15. free delivery So, how much does a Chinese fur coat cost? Pricing includes methods of delivery of a Chinese-made product to the buyer. Thus, a Chinese-made fur coat purchased from their online store can be relatively cheap. It is very profitable to buy a fur product during the sales season and during current promotions. The difference in comparison with a European fur coat can reach 90%.

For comparison: in Greece, a medium-length mink coat costs about 2,400 euros. In a Chinese online store you will pay only 700, maximum 1000 dollars for it. And this is without discounts! There are fur coats that cost even less. These are rabbit, raccoon, fox and some other types of fur. Well, if you buy a fur product at a discount during sales, you can save up to 80% of the original cost.

What is the difference between tailoring fur coats from Chinese and Scandinavian mink?

High-quality Scandinavian fur coats have fairly high-quality tailoring. Accordingly, all pieces of skin are carefully connected to each other. Sew-in of small leather areas is allowed. The fewer such areas, the better the quality of the fur coat. In addition, coloring is not permitted. The same cannot be said about Chinese models.

Sewing and patterns:

The fact is that the Chinese are trying to pass off one type of mink as another, and accordingly they can cut it and also dye it. This is quite easy to notice if you look at the reverse side of the fur coat. If the fur is not dyed, then the mink is brown, black or mahogany. At the same time, the reverse side is much lighter than the color of the fur itself. Chinese fur coats are often dyed black.
Thus, the skin itself, that is, the flesh, is painted dark gray or black. This is not the case in Scandinavian fur coats, and a high-quality black mink coat has a light brown tint on the reverse side. Just like any light fur coat. This is due to the fact that Scandinavian minks are not dyed, but are sold as they are in color.
Recently, quite often, Greek companies, in order to save money, order fur coats made from European skins in China. Then it is necessary to consider not the skin itself, but the method of joining, as well as the model and tailoring of the fur coat. Very often in China they mess around and start sewing this kind of clothes rather poorly. To be more precise, the distance for connecting the mink pieces is not maintained.
Thus the seam can be thicker or thinner. This does not happen with Scandinavian fur coats, since almost all the skins are sewn with the same stitch and are of the same thickness. And also Chinese fur coats do not have a huge range of models, that is, patterns. They usually have the same model range, which is the most popular. As for Scandinavian models, here you can choose a fur coat to suit every taste and figure.

Fur coat from China

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 dyeing faded spots or covering the hairs with a 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 high-quality product has a light core. A dark base means the fur has been dyed or the pelts 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 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 marmot as a 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 that of a rabbit is sparse, has almost no down, and if you squeeze it between your fingers, it becomes intangible.

Tailoring to order

Since the mink coat was made taking into account my measurements and wishes, I had to wait about a week for it to be sewn. I asked the seller to make a hidden zipper to check the quality of the mesh, lengthen the sleeves, replace the lining in the fur coat with a plain one, sew a button on the collar and sew a fur belt separately.

A week after the order, the seller sent a photo of the finished product on a mannequin and on November 28 sent my order via e-EMS. On December 20, the courier delivered the parcel directly to my home; it took quite a long time for such an expensive item.

Having opened the parcel, the first impression was good, the product corresponded to the photo sent before shipping. At first glance, the fur coat seemed light and overly thin.

Is it worth buying Chinese fur coats?

Many people, when they hear that something is from China, immediately give it a low quality rating. But this is not always correct; quite a few things from there can serve us much longer than others.

By searching for information on the Internet, you can find out that in Russia there are several offices that are in contact with Chinese sellers who advertise and help sell their fur coats. They guarantee good quality at low prices; in addition, they advise you to purchase from them, since it is not always possible to find a product of really high quality on your own.

A good tip would be not to look for answers on forums. Firstly, you simply can’t get out of there, and secondly, opinions there are always radically different from one another, and this can confuse yourself even more. Thirdly, after reading bad reviews, you can completely protect yourself from the desired purchase, deciding that, after all, the Chinese product is not suitable for you, even though its price is not exorbitant.

Personally, it has always been risky for me to shop online. I like to touch a thing, look at it, try it on, walk around in it, and after that think about whether it’s worth buying this thing or not. And when choosing a fur coat you need to rely only on this!

How to fake a real mink

Unscrupulous manufacturers use various tricks to reduce the cost of their products and increase profits. The most harmless option for counterfeiting is passing off dyed mink as natural. Usually this trick is used to hide the imperfections of the coat. Having bought such a fur coat, the buyer receives a product for 2-3 seasons, no more.

Sellers make much more profit by replacing expensive fur with cheaper ones. For example, a rabbit, a marmot. With the technological computerization of the process of hair removal, cutting, dyeing, plucking, it has become much easier to make a high-quality fake, with minimal differences from the original.

Stencil coloring is an innovation that makes it possible to accurately emulate natural color. It is difficult, but possible, to distinguish a high-quality fur product from such a fake. The main thing is not to rush into the purchase.

The main reasons for the low quality of Chinese mink coats

Up until 2009, most fur products produced in China were of extremely low quality. This was due to the fact that tailoring was carried out not in specialized factories, but in underground workshops. Low quality concerned both the tailoring of the products and the raw materials used. An inexperienced buyer, disguised as a mink, was offered to purchase a fur coat made of fox or rabbit fur.

As a rule, after the first season of wear, a “high-quality mink coat” disintegrated into many components. Sometimes this even happened in the first month after the purchase, as was clearly evidenced by the reviews of many owners

Of course, such products did not have any marks or quality certificates.

Buy from those who are trustworthy

The likelihood of being deceived when buying a fur product is, of course, greater at the market, imported fairs and exhibitions. The buyer may not be provided with any guarantees for the item being sold. It’s easy to buy low-quality goods, or even cheap fur disguised as expensive ones, in such places of sale. Today it is indeed very difficult to distinguish a real fur coat from a fake. Every year, dressing specialists perfect the appearance of not only expensive types of fur, such as mink, silver fox, chinchilla, beaver, etc., but also the cheapest ones, such as rabbit, marmot, goat, etc.

A large chain store with a good reputation is a guarantee that you pay for exactly what you buy. A large seller has its own relationships with manufacturers, and this allows us to say with confidence that the things sold in such a store meet all the necessary quality standards and sanitary standards. In addition, a company with a large turnover and special relationships with suppliers can afford to make favorable offers and fair discounts for its customers.

Criterias of choice

There are four different ways to buy a fur coat. Which one will be more convenient for you is up to you to decide.

1. Buying a fur coat in a Chinese online store

2. Trip to China

3. Purchase through Russian dealers

4. Purchase through intermediaries.

Purchasing from an online store can be called the most risky, since the photo of the product and its description do not always correspond to reality.

To protect yourself from counterfeiting, adhere to the following rules:

If you order a fur coat on the website of an online store, carefully study the information about what material the fur coat is made of.
Don't ignore reviews, especially negative ones.
Please note the seller's rating, if provided.
Don't buy a fur coat from an online store you've never heard of.
Make a purchase only on a time-tested and popular platform.
To avoid buying a “pig in a poke,” clothes need to be carefully inspected and tried on.

If buying a fur coat in a Chinese online store does not suit you, there is a second way. And he is more reliable. For a Chinese fur coat, you can go to a fur salon that works with different brands. By comparing prices, you will understand which fur coats were brought from China and which from other countries.

By buying a fur coat in such a store, you can save , but a little less than if you bought the product through an online store. The advantage of buying a fur coat from a multi-brand fur store is that you can evaluate the quality of the fur coat and try it on yourself.

When buying a fur coat through an intermediary, you will save less than in an online store, but more than in a fur salon. Intermediaries deal with the delivery of fur coats from China. It is better to buy a Chinese fur coat through an intermediary on the recommendation of someone from your circle.

The best way to save on buying a fur coat is an independent trip to the Celestial Empire . Of course, if we take into account transportation costs, food and stay in this country, then it is advisable to buy not one, but two or more fur coats at once. Before your trip, you can invite your friends to cooperate. This way you will cover part of your expenses.

Fur market in China

If you decide to go on a fur coat tour to China on your own, the following recommendations will help you:

If after trying on a fur coat you decide to buy it, then ask the seller to pack it. At the same time, do not let the fur coat out of your sight for a second. Chinese sellers may give you the wrong product that you chose and paid for. They can easily pack you a low-quality fur coat, sewn in some underground workshop, or a fur coat that costs much less than the one you paid for.
Do not trust the words of the seller and the labels on the fur coat. There are cases where rabbit fur has been passed off as Rex or mink. So be careful. If you decide to buy, for example, a sable fur coat, learn to distinguish this fur from all the others.
Always bargain and do not agree to buy a product at the price offered to you . You can and should bargain in Chinese markets. You can safely ask for a discount of 30-40% from the stated price. In some cases, you can bargain for 50%.

What is the difference between mink fur and fake?

The service life of a good mink hat is from 10 years. Counterfeits lose their original luster within 2-3 seasons, which leads to new expenses for hats. Certain knowledge will help you distinguish real mink from other fur:

A rabbit is often disguised as a mink; its skins are thinner and its fur is fluffy, soft, and uneven in color. When you feel a rabbit fur hat, a little undercoat remains in your hands, which never happens with a mink hat.
The steppe marmot is the main contender for a fake. Its main difference is the villi and guard hairs of different lengths, which are prickly to the touch. The fur of a real mink does not bristle or prickle.
Sometimes sheared beaver fur is passed off as mink. Its fibers are less plastic and pliable, and the size of the skins is larger than that of mink. Beaver flesh is twice as thick as mink skins, and the fur is denser and thicker.
Honorik's fur visually resembles a mink - black shiny fur, thick underfur. However, its skins are somewhat larger, the fur has an uneven color, and the underfur is less dense. Honorika's fur is longer than that of mink. But this feature can only be noticed in a comparison of two original skins.

My experience.

Not long ago, I also thought about buying a mink coat, which I had wanted for a very long time. After discussing this with my husband, we decided to look for fur stores or boutiques in our city. After visiting several locations, we realized that the prices in each store are much higher, but the quality of the fur coats themselves is not much different. There are many models, all different, but three or four of them are found in every store.

A friend told me that she bought a Chinese fur coat, which wore well for two seasons, fit perfectly, but in terms of quality it was visually different from an expensive Greek fur coat.

Another shared that she also bought Chinese fur, which barely wore for one season, and in the end it was completely frayed and was not at all wearable.

In the end, we all agreed that we needed to go to the market and see what was there.

As a result, it was there that we found a model that suited me at an affordable price, which was half the price of a store-bought one, and the quality was many times better. And yes, it was a Chinese mink coat.

I myself really love furs, even artificial ones, because they are always soft, warm and cozy! In addition, different models fit and look differently, so it’s still worth paying attention to which model is right for you, what kind of fur you want, its color, filling and tailoring are also important.

Therefore, I conclude: China is different!

It’s up to you to decide which country of origin you want to buy fur from, at what price and where. But still, experience shows that you should not be afraid of Chinese production, you need to compare it with other manufacturers, look for your pros and cons and then decide whether to invest in it or not. Still, fur, sometimes even faux fur, is not cheap, it is a serious purchase that needs to be approached responsibly, because you want to wear this item with pleasure and for as long as possible!

Video review

Everything is relative

Disguising an expensive mink as another, cheaper fur is the most common type of fraud. Experienced “salesmen” skillfully cope with the task, but there are differences. It is impossible to completely hide the natural characteristics of wool. For example, mink weighs much lighter than any other fur. Let's look at how to identify a real mink coat among rabbit, marmot, beaver, ferret, honorik and synthetic fur:

Rabbit

You can tell the difference between rabbit fur and mink by touching the material. Softness and heterogeneity of shade should immediately alert you. The shine is uneven, the hairs are of different colors. If you pluck the undercoat a little, you will be left with a few hairs in your hand. Another important way to avoid confusing a mink with a dyed rabbit is to visually inspect the skeleton (undercoat). The rabbit's is uneven. If the manufacturer has trimmed it to hide this fact, the undercoat will scratch unpleasantly.

Marmot

The principle is similar to how to distinguish rabbit fur from mink. The marmot is more prickly, with hairs of different lengths. In terms of elasticity, it is closer to mink than a rabbit, but has no plasticity. If you stroke the material, it immediately begins to fray. Natural lighting will help to distinguish a fake. The marmot will give a pronounced bluish tint in the sun.

Beaver

Like the marmot, the beaver is characterized by significant rigidity; mink is much softer to the touch. The beaver skins themselves are large, and the inside of the product is several times thicker.

Ferret

The main differences: the coat is taller, the undercoat is sparse. Regardless of whether the fur is dyed or artificial, the ferret has a unique feature. Lightish areas are visible on the sides of the material, and even if the fur is tinted in this place it will be lighter. You can also distinguish a ferret thanks to its style. This type of wool is not used to make loose models due to the sparse undercoat. The fake ferret is basically a straight cut.

Honorik

How to distinguish a mink from an honorik? The animal was obtained by crossing a mink with a ferret; it is slightly larger in appearance and similar to a sable. Distinguishing two furs from each other is not an easy task even for a professional. The first thing that will help you distinguish an Honorika is its color. The animal's hair is much darker, and the undercoat is light. Mink, as you know, has uniform fur. The second sign of a fake is that the skins are large in size. And the final way to distinguish mink from honorik is to pay attention to its shine. The fake is much more shiny.

Artificial mink

Natural fur and synthetic fake. If in the described cases the buyer receives a fake mink, but a natural product, then in this case there is a risk of paying a lot of money for artificial material. To distinguish a cheaper product, you need to carefully examine the reverse side - fake wool is attached to a fabric base, the difference immediately reveals a fake. If the manufacturer has sewn the hem completely, it is necessary to clearly expose the hairs and undercoat; the fabric base will be visible anyway.

There are many options for distinguishing real mink from a fake; the main thing is to evaluate the product in person, not trusting the promises of the online store seller.

Why can you buy Chinese mink coats today without fear?

At the moment, we can highlight several main factors thanks to which you can safely purchase mink coats, examples of which are presented in the photo, sewn in factories in China:

active development of fur factories;
use of high quality raw materials;
full compliance with technological nuances;
full compliance with quality standards;
availability of certificates and marks confirming quality.

Video reviews

Features of purchasing fur products in China

For those who prefer to buy fur products exactly in the country where they were sewn, experts give several recommendations regarding the specifics of the purchase. Let's look at some of them in more detail:

First of all, we are talking about the fact that the buyer should decide in advance where exactly the trip will be made. This could be a visit to a shopping center located in a large city, or a visit to the International Trade Center, located on the border of China and Kazakhstan and called “Khorgos”. Today, both options are truly relevant and in demand;

The next nuance concerns periodic language problems. The fact is that in China, and even in the border zone, sellers very rarely speak Russian and the only way to communicate with them is to speak in their native dialect or one of the languages of Asian countries. Reviews from those who have already visited Chinese shopping centers indicate that the simplest, but at the same time effective way to solve the problem is to have a translator from the Kazakh or Uyghur languages;
high probability of deception. There are often situations when a client buys an expensive mink coat, an example of which can be seen in the photo, chooses it independently and negotiates the price. At the moment when the buyer goes to the checkout to make a payment, the seller simply replaces the quality product with a cheaper one. To prevent such a result, it is necessary to carefully monitor how the product is packaged and not let it out of sight for a minute;
Be sure to check the quality of the product when choosing. In this case, we are talking not only about a visual inspection, but also about checking the availability of appropriate certificates;

And most importantly, don’t be afraid to bargain. As a rule, almost all sellers know in advance that their client will ask for a discount and make an appropriate markup on the actual cost of the product. It is for this reason that there are often situations when the discount that can be obtained during the auction is 40-50% and, as a result, a mink coat costs the buyer significantly less than originally expected.

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.

Fur quality

The Chinese mink, of course, differs from the Russian one, but it also had a good undercoat, the pile quickly returned to its original position. The fitting was a little disappointing, since the fur coat did not fit a little in terms of height, the drawstring was higher than the waist. Further, a detailed examination of the fur coat revealed significant shortcomings:

lack of zipper to check the quality of the meat;
the transverse stripes turned out to be narrower than stated;
the smell and hem on the fur coat are cut incorrectly, everything is done to the minimum;
the flesh consisted of pieces in places;
The fur belt is too short and narrow.

The HDHOHR seller did not make a zipper to check the quality of the fur, but I was not too lazy and ripped off the lining at the bottom of the fur coat...

The quality of the skins turned out to be quite good, they were light and elastic inside, but the fact that individual strips were sewn from pieces was disappointing. The photo showed a product made of 8 wide stripes, but in fact I received a fur coat made from 10 thinner strips, that is, the seller saved a lot, while the description indicated that the fur coat was made from whole skins.

The accessories in the HDHOHR fur product are of high quality - strong hooks, a plain silk lining, the edges of the lining are additionally stitched with braid. Externally, the fur coat looks very impressive.

Taking into account the above shortcomings, I decided to negotiate with the seller for partial compensation, but the seller responded extremely reluctantly and did not acknowledge these obvious shortcomings.

As a result, I opened a dispute on Aliexpress, in which I asked to return part of the money, but the decision was made: “Return of goods and refund of money,” that is, I had to send the fur coat back to the seller and get my money, but this option did not suit me, I left my fur coat, I wear it, it’s warm and beautiful. This mink hat looks great with her!

Faux fur products

Chinese faux fur coats deserve a separate discussion. They have many advantages over fur coats made from natural fur:

Their cost is significantly lower than that of fur coats made from natural material.
Synthetic material does not require special storage conditions.
The operating period is higher.
The weight of a fur coat made from faux fur is less than that of a fur coat made from natural fur.

Reviews

On the Internet you can find many positive and negative reviews about fur coats made in China . Basically, people complain that Chinese fur coats are impractical. After wearing for a short time, fur loses its shine and attractiveness.

Positive reviews about the purchase are left by those buyers who approached the choice more responsibly, and did not buy into the cheapness.

Using the experience of others, we can conclude that you need to be careful when buying a fur coat. Therefore, if you want to buy a high-quality fur coat from China, we recommend using our tips.

Those who have traveled to China to buy a fur coat are advised to use the services of an escort who speaks Chinese, knows the market and is well versed in furs.

[Total: 12 Average: 3.5/5]

Features of Italian and European fur coats

As for Italian fur coats, they are mainly made from Scandinavian mink. But here the pattern itself, as well as the model of the fur coat, has a huge difference. It is worth noting that Italian fur coats are made with the assistance of designers, so these items are quite expensive. The quality of tailoring is perfect, and you can choose a completely unusual model, which is quite difficult to find in any other country.

In addition, there are models that are sewn onto non-standard figures, in which the difference between the upper and lower parts is more than 2 sizes. At the same time, these products look very harmonious and chic.

Italian fur coat

In order not to be deceived, you must carefully choose a fur coat. Don't be fooled by the low price, as a quality fur coat cannot be cheap. If necessary, come to the store several times, and also ask for quality certificates. Be sure to inspect not only the fur, but also the flesh.

How can you tell an expensive mink from a cheap one?

Buying a low-quality Chinese fur coat at the price of a Canadian one is unpleasant, offensive and costly. To avoid falling for cheap products, you should be more careful when inspecting the product. The first difference is the awn. The fake has excessively long and straight hair. Outwardly it may seem prickly. An important detail: the hair seems to lie at the base of the hair, and does not rise above it. More skillful sellers make fur with a medium-length pile and pass off such fur coats as Scandinavian ones, one of the most expensive minks in the segment. In this case, it is worth carefully examining the product further.

The second difference is shine. A low-quality fur coat will have an uneven shine, in chunks. The glassiness of the tide should also confuse you. If you put two fur coats together, a cheap one and a real Scandinavian one, the differences will be clearly visible. The natural product has a diamond sheen. The third difference is the undercoat. The case with the long axis immediately raises suspicion. It is not thick, not tight. With a short axle everything is more complicated. In such models, manufacturers make a thick underfur and pass off the fur coats, for example, as the “black diamond” model. But the original fur coat has a light inner layer, while the fake one has a darker shade.