It is incorrect to compare the fur of a Rex rabbit with that of a regular rabbit. It is more reminiscent of valuable varieties of this material - chinchilla, squirrel or beaver. From the latter comes the second name of this fur - beaver. A Rex rabbit fur coat has certain advantages and disadvantages. We will talk about them in this article.
The official name of the breed translates as king or ruler . Designer items are often created from Rex rabbit skins and used to decorate evening dresses. Fur coats made from this fur have always enjoyed a reputation as fashionable and original winter clothing.
Rex rabbit breed
The Rex rabbit breed was bred by selective breeding in 1919 in France. It is classified as a meat-hide animal, however, the quality of the fur of this animal is paramount. The breed was officially registered in 1925. At that time, its nurseries were located only in France and Germany.
They did not want to sell breeding animals to the Soviet Union. Our livestock breeders, taking rabbits of other breeds to foreign exhibitions, crossed them there with rexes. A dominant gene is responsible for the unusual fur texture. It manifests itself in all offspring of the Rex rabbit, and in the future, by crossing hybrids, a pure breed can be obtained.
Today there are about 30 subspecies within the Rex breed. The main criterion by which they are distinguished is the color and texture of the fur. The determining factor in the emergence of these subspecies was the natural conditions of the places where the nurseries were located.
In breeding, the Rex rabbit is not much different from its counterparts. But keeping animals intended for skins has its own specifics and is labor-intensive. These rabbits do not tolerate well: - high temperatures; - lack of fresh air; - high humidity.
Animals are slaughtered in winter, when the density of their fur reaches its maximum.
Features of rabbit fur
The Rex rabbit is a short-haired rabbit. A feature of its fur is the same length of guard hair and undercoat . This makes it look like velvet or sheared animal skins. The coat should be thick and wrinkle-free. Curly hairs on the skin of a Rex rabbit can only be found in the neck area. Due to the fact that only the skin from the back of the animal is used to make clothes, areas with such texture on the product indicate its low quality.
The most popular natural colors of Rex rabbit skin are: - white; — gray chinchilla; - black.
The first option is more often used for painting. Such skins are used for sewing designer fur coats and decorating clothes.
This material is soft enough that when sewing fur coats from it it would be possible to use styles characteristic of textile products. It is light and warm, which allows it to be used to create models intended for the winter season, without limiting their length.
Unlike a regular rabbit, the Rex rabbit is more wear-resistant and less prone to developing bald spots from friction.
To enhance this characteristic, the fur is additionally cut. Clothes made from such skins can withstand up to 8 seasons . The disadvantage of a Rex rabbit fur coat is that due to the lack of long guard hairs that would protect the undercoat from water, it quickly gets wet.
History of appearance
According to the widespread version, the animals that became the progenitors of the breed were born in 1919 on one of the farms located in the south of France. As a result of a random mutation, a pair of rabbits of the Belgian Giant (Flanders) breed gave birth to babies with a very original fur structure.
Initially, the color of the rex was dark brown, but now there are numerous varieties with a wide palette of colors, even “cheetah”
The owner of the animals appreciated the prospects for breeding such unusual pets and tried to consolidate the spontaneously manifested characteristics through a series of closely related crosses. This is how a new variety of rabbits was obtained, called Rex - “royal”. In 1924 they were exhibited at the Paris International Exhibition, where they were a resounding success.
Particular attention of rabbit breeders was attracted by the fact that the skins of animals, almost without additional processing, could imitate the fur of more valuable fur-bearing animals (for example, beaver).
Over the next few decades, livestock breeders and scientists in many European countries were actively involved in the breeding and selection of rex. Some states even introduced bans on the export of animals of this breed in order to prevent the free distribution of valuable genetic material. The fur coats of the first bred individuals were dark brown, but over time, rabbit breeders received other varieties with a wide variety of colors.
How much does a Rex rabbit fur coat cost?
A fur coat made from Rex fur, due to the characteristics of the material, is much more expensive than a product made from rabbit skins of other breeds. However, in comparison with chinchilla analogues, its cost is low. In determining the price range for a specific model, the following matters: - fur color; — the presence of decor from the skins of other animals; — relevance of the model.
The length of the product can add no more than 20% to the cost of a fur coat.
- A shortened model made of Rex rabbit fur of chinchilla color will cost 42-45 thousand rubles.
- An analogue made from a natural-colored material will cost about 20 thousand rubles, and a painted one – 25-30 thousand rubles.
- The classic length model can be purchased for 21 thousand rubles, and for 40-48 thousand rubles.
- The highest price segment includes products complemented by a hood.
- A product below the knees will cost about 50 thousand rubles.
- A medium-length Rex rabbit fur coat with fox or silver fox fur decoration will cost the same amount.
Fur colors
Rabbit fur is beautifully dyed in various colors:
- blue (purple, dark green) – for extravagant girls;
- white - for romantics, this is the image of the Snow Maiden;
- black – the natural color of the rabbit without dyeing;
- gray is the classic color of a fur coat, the trendy shade is “orilage”;
- sand, beige - creative shades;
- “chinchilla” - also a natural color, supplemented for beauty with light stripes by the manufacturers;
- Multi-colored (striped) fur coats with contrasting colors are on trend.
Cropped models and crosscuts are distinguished by a special gloss and beautiful shine Similarity to a chinchilla and affordable price are the advantages of fur coats.
Fashionable models of fur coats from Rex
The original texture of this fur, as well as its relatively low cost, makes it an ideal material for creating designer products. Youth versions of fur coats are often made from Rex rabbit skins.
The most popular products are short-length, straight-cut, made from dyed skins.
Bright colors dominate here and geometric prints are possible . You can find products decorated with patterns, or details made of genuine leather and textiles. Models with a hood are also popular.
Also, analogues of fur coats from more valuable breeds of fur are made from Rex rabbit skins. Due to the fact that this material is visually indistinguishable from chinchilla, products are made from it that replicate fashionable models of expensive clothing.
Often, original elegant fur coats are created from the Rex rabbit. Here you can often find decor in the form of a hood-collar complemented with fox, silver fox or arctic fox fur, the natural color of which is preserved.
The autolady style is very popular - a short, fitted silhouette. The model may have a hood. A fashionable trend is to sew it from fur, which differs in color from the entire product.
Fashionable looks for winter 2021-2022
A Rex rabbit fur coat will perfectly complement both everyday and festive outfits. If the model is classic, then it is suitable for creating a retro style look. A fur coat with a straight silhouette and a geometric print will also go well with it. As accessories you can use a hat with a veil, a handbag made of genuine leather.
It is better to refuse costume jewelry, giving preference to jewelry made of precious metals.
The autolady fur coat model, as well as youth and chinchilla variations, will perfectly complement punk, casual, or folk looks. The first and last options can be complemented with catchy jewelry made of metal or natural materials, or a wide leather belt.
Original shoes and hats will highlight your chosen style. In the first option, preference should be given to a sporty or avant-garde option with an abundance of decor.
The third involves a fur or knitted hat and ugg boots. A casual look requires a minimum of flashy accessories.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Great Rex rabbit
Like all representatives of the hare family, Rex rabbits are very shy animals. They are afraid of loud noises and unfamiliar people. Animals feel best in a calm environment. Animals treat people calmly and are very sociable. They recognize the owner. However, do not forget that you need to handle rabbits very carefully; if the animal is frightened, the rabbit may scratch or bite. Rex rabbits do not like bad smells and if a person’s hands smell bad, the rabbit may also bite.
Rabbits live peacefully among themselves if they are placed in a cage at the same time. We must not forget that males are accustomed to protecting their territory and when a stranger appears in the cage, conflicts can begin. Sometimes males fight for their territory to the death. For proper development and a harmonious life, animals need to move, so rabbits must be let out of the cage at least once a day so that they can stretch their legs. If the animal is not allowed out of the cage and there is little interaction with it, the rabbit may become depressed.
In this case, the rabbits either refuse food and lie in the corner of the cage, or, on the contrary, become aggressive, begin to chew the bars of the cage, and rush from corner to corner. If rabbits are allowed out of their cage for a while, fed a balanced diet and interacted with animals, they will feel fine. Rex rabbits are very affectionate and sociable animals, if you give them time and attention they will become good friends.
Interesting fact: Rabbits have a fairly high intelligence, they are well accustomed to the tray, and allocate a separate place for food.
How to choose a quality Rex fur coat
When choosing a Rex rabbit fur coat, you need to inspect the product for the same type of fur. It should not have differences in the length of the pile, areas with wavy hair, and areas where the skin can be seen or easily felt.
If there are defects, they are most often located in the area of seams and folds, so these places should be inspected with special attention.
To make sure that it is a rex and not a shorn rabbit, you need to crush the fur a little. It should return to its original state as soon as the pressure on it stops.
If a future purchase is to replace a chinchilla fur coat in your wardrobe, then the first thing you should make sure is whether the color of the rabbit skins is natural. To do this, you should carefully examine the fur to look for areas that are colored incorrectly. If the fur coat is decorated with the skins of other animals, these elements also need to be checked for defects and the quality of painting.
Rules of care ^
Buying a fur product is quite a responsible decision. An expensive item needs proper care, and this must be taken into account. What rules will allow you to preserve the appearance of a fur coat for a long time?
- The weather changes quite often during the winter season. If you are caught in rain and snow on the way, then at home you need to let the fur dry at room temperature.
- After drying, you need to comb it with a special comb. This should be done according to the growth of the villi and against it, and the fur should be slightly fluffed.
- If a Rex fur coat gets too wet, then after drying it must be taken to a furrier - only a specialist will be able to return it to its original appearance.
- It is very important to protect the item from moths, so it should be stored in a duffel bag with special tablets added to it.
- The product should be cleaned once a year.
It is strictly not recommended to dry the product on a radiator or use an iron. This can cause hair loss and deterioration in appearance.
Reviews from owners
Rex rabbit fur coats of chinchilla color receive most of the flattering reviews. In terms of protection from the cold, they are not inferior to their chinchilla counterparts, they look no worse, and are much cheaper.
To take full advantage of the latter advantage, buyers prefer domestically produced fur coats sold directly from clothing factories. The only thing that many do not take into account is the lack of resistance of this material to moisture.
No less popular than chinchilla options are custom-cut Rex rabbit fur coats. The lightness of the material allows owners of maxi-length products not to feel the weight of the clothing.
Often the choice is made between the Rex rabbit option and the mink one, taking into account the price and practicality of the purchase.
As for the durability of the product, many buyers claim that with proper care, a fur coat can withstand at least 10 seasons. [Total: 7 Average: 3.9/5]
Pros and cons of the breed
The advantages of this variety of rabbits include:
- high frost resistance (up to –30 °C);
- unpretentiousness in choosing food;
- high yield;
- fairly good early maturity.
The disadvantages of the breed are as follows:
- intolerance to hot climates and temperatures above +25 °C;
- low fertility of females;
- low survival rate of newborn rabbits;
- excessive fearfulness;
- increased aggressiveness as a reaction to odors;
- Possibility of breeding the breed only by professionals.
