Mink coats are most popular in Russia. This fur is distinguished by its special beauty, durability, and good thermal characteristics. But the price for such a fur coat may not always be affordable for women. Most people save up for it over several years and buy it to wear for more than one season. But several particularly cunning fur sellers learned how to make fakes very similar to mink.
It becomes very disappointing when you purchase the fur coat of your dreams, which, it turns out, is not made from mink at all, but, for example, from a marmot or a ferret. How can you easily and quickly distinguish a high-quality product from a counterfeit product and purchase a fur coat that can last for many years?
What is the price?
There are a huge number of factors that influence the price. The color and category of mink fur is of great importance. Sheared mink is attractive for its price, since it is much less than a normal mink coat. However, if the skin is cut using a laser, the price increases several times.
Another factor that affects the price is color. The most expensive color is black.
Beige, gray and blue mink coats are also in the middle price range. The most budget category of fur coats includes reddish, amber and caramel minks. The cheapest and most affordable fur coats for women are models of brown shades - dark and light.
An important aspect when purchasing a sheared mink coat is choosing a well-known brand.
Comparison of skins of females and males
Recommendations from experts, as a rule, include a clause stating that it is inadmissible to mix the skins of females and males in one item.
| Characteristic | ️ Female | ️ Male |
| Leather base | The skin is thin and very elastic. | The skin is not as flexible as that of the female, its thickness is greater, and its texture is rougher. |
| Pile | The length of the guard hairs is shorter than that of the male's coat, and the undercoat is sparser. | The fur is more luxuriant than that of the female. The undercoat is abundant, dense, and the guard hairs are long and fluffy. |
| Weight | The skin is light, almost weightless. | The mass is greater than that of the female's skin. |
| Size | 5-10 square decimeters | 8-14 square decimeters |
As a rule, long fur coats are made from the skins of females. The skins of males are used to sew short fur products - jackets, cardigans, jackets, vests.
How to distinguish a mink coat from a fake
To distinguish a natural mink coat from a counterfeit one, you should focus on a number of features.
Tactile sensations
High-quality fur should be soft and smooth to the touch. It is moderately pliable. If you run your hand over the surface, the villi should return to their original position. The fur should also be slightly prickly. Less wear-resistant fur is considered softer and does not itch. It is also worth paying attention to the size. It is not recommended to buy a stretched fur coat.
Undercoat
To purchase a quality fur coat, you should pay attention to the undercoat. It is important to take into account that mink can be summer and winter. These models differ in the number of villi and the density of the undercoat. The winter variety is characterized by a thick undercoat. Such models are warmer, but are cheaper. Summer mink has a smoother and more shiny color. At the same time, the undercoat is smaller, and the price is higher.
Checking the flesh
To buy a good fur coat, it is definitely recommended to pay attention to the fur. This term refers to the lower part of the skin, which indicates age. It is recommended to give preference exclusively to models and skins that have a light, elastic core. Dark brown color indicates that the fur is old.
Visual inspection
To avoid buying a low-quality fur coat, you should evaluate its appearance. It is important that the pile is smooth and uniform. From the back the skins are denser and smoother. Other fragments are considered not so beautiful and durable. However, they are much cheaper.
Expert opinion
Karnaukh Ekaterina Vladimirovna
Graduated from the National University of Shipbuilding, majoring in Enterprise Economics
It is important to take into account that in products made from backs, joints and undercoat are not noticeable at all. They resemble cast skins. A fur coat made from fragments looks as if it is made of small semicircles. At the same time, the product appears wavy in appearance.
Price
A quality fur coat cannot be cheap. However, the specific cost depends on a number of features. Thus, the price of a lightweight fur coat in a medium-length style is 60 thousand rubles. This is not the worst option. However, it is only suitable for temperatures of 0 degrees.
The price of a warm fur coat below the knee reaches 200 thousand rubles. The same cost is typical for mink coats. At the same time, combined models that combine mink and other furs are cheaper. For example, a combination of mink and rabbit in one product will cost 30 thousand rubles.
Expert opinion
Karnaukh Ekaterina Vladimirovna
Graduated from the National University of Shipbuilding, majoring in Enterprise Economics
However, these prices apply to standard models. Designer fur coats made in small fur studios will cost much more. In fact, there are no upper price limits for such things. At the same time, the lower threshold is more than 200 thousand rubles. Faux fur coats are cheaper.
Manufacturer country
Canadian and Scandinavian minks are considered to be among the highest quality and most expensive. They are characterized by abundant fluff and have a very thick pile of medium length. Greek fur coats are also popular in Russia. However, it is important to remember that a quality product cannot be cheap.
Chinese fur coats are much cheaper. Today there are many manufacturers who offer quality products. However, among these types of fur there are many fakes. That’s why it’s so important to monitor quality.
Gate
Various styles of fur coats are sewn from short-haired mink. The collar in fur products often serves as the main decorative element.
English
A wide English collar can be seen on straight and widened fur coat models. Often products of this style are decorated with a belt.
Without collar
A fur coat with a straight or slightly flared silhouette is sometimes sewn without a collar. Such fur products can be worn unbuttoned.
Hood
Mink short fur coats with a hood can be worn without thinking about a hat. In bad weather, such a piece of clothing will protect from wind and frost. The hood, sewn from whole mink skins, is a beautiful decoration in itself.
Rack
A stand-up collar usually adorns products with a straight or trapezoidal silhouette
The simple design of such fur coats allows you to focus on the nobility of mink fur.
Detachable hood
Models with a removable hood can be worn in cool autumn and frosty winter. Such versatile products are not only practical, but also fabulously beautiful.
Apache
The apache collar, which is usually used when sewing a classic coat, can be found on mink coats. Short pile mink allows you to create models of any style.
Collar
Mink coats can have a wide variety of collars. Short-haired mink fur allows you to make patterns for fur products according to any patterns.
Turndown
Fur coats of straight or trapezoidal cut are decorated with original turn-down collars. For flared or cocoon-shaped models, frill-shaped collars are sometimes made.
Detachable collar
Mink coats may have a detachable collar. This removable detail allows you to diversify a woman's wardrobe.
Chanel
The Chanel collar with an open round neck is usually used when sewing straight silhouette fur coats. Warm mink products of this classic style are usually sewn with short sleeves.
How to avoid buying rabbit and faux fur coats
To avoid buying a fake fur coat, you should consider the following:
- Shake the product. By the sounds it will be possible to determine whether the fur is dry or whether the dressing technology has been violated.
- Blow on the pile and touch the fur coat with your hands. It is important that the product is soft. Creases should not be felt to the touch. Their presence provokes the appearance of holes and rapid wear of the product.
- Run your palm over the fur or gently tug at the hairs. In this case, nothing unnecessary should remain in your hands. It is important that the fur quickly returns to its original position.
- Evaluate appearance. A high-quality product is distinguished by the same color and smooth color transitions.
- Run a white napkin or handkerchief over the fur coat. They must remain clean. This will help identify the dyed fur coat.
- View the flesh. In this case, it is necessary to raise the hem of the lining or push the pile from the outside. It is important to choose a fur coat with a light core, which indicates the absence of paint. This sign also confirms that the fur is young.
- Smell the product. It is important that it does not have chemical aromas that indicate coloring. The smell of rotten animal fat is also unacceptable. This indicates a violation of production technology.
- Assess the quality of the seams. It is important that they are strong and durable.
- Study the label. It indicates the serial number and country of origin. It is also important to have the manufacturer's address and other contacts.
Fashion trends
Modern designers try not to deviate from new trends, so they use a variety of ideas in creating collections. Quite often, sheared mink is combined with other options, which looks interesting and unusual.
This look is often complemented with beaver fur collars. The upper part looks lush and voluminous, and harmonizes well with the short mink pile.
Long fur coats have taken the leading position. Such clothes not only look good, but also provide excellent protection from the cold on frosty days.
Recently, the material has been dyed, since classic models in natural colors have become somewhat boring to customers. This solution is a newfangled introduction, and many brands are happy to use it in their lines.
Final table
To distinguish natural fur from artificial fur, you should pay attention to the criteria given in the table:
| Criterion | Natural fur | Artificial fur |
| Shine | Shines and shimmers | Features a matte surface |
| Weight | Easy | Heavy |
| Compactness | Easily folds and takes up minimal space | More bulky |
Natural mink must meet many criteria by which its authenticity can be distinguished. At the same time, it is important to approach quality assessment comprehensively.
