Wild mink coat: what it is, features of the product and the fur itself

Wild mink coat

The fashion world has undergone many changes over the decades.
But fur products have always enjoyed increased attention among the fair sex. Mink coats have always been examples of femininity and wealth. Today, such products are made from two types of mink: wild and captive-bred. When choosing a fur coat from wild mink, you should beware of fakes.

When choosing a fur coat, it is also worth remembering the peculiarities of your physique. Short and knee-length models are suitable for plump and short women, while tall and thin women should pay attention to elongated models.

What it is

At first glance, the coats made from the fur of these animals are no different, but if you take a closer look, the differences immediately catch your eye.

A fur coat made from wild mink is rare in stores, and even more so in bazaars. It will take a lot of skins to sew such an outfit. Often, inattentive buyers are offered fur coats made from marmot or nutria instead of fur from wild mink.

The structure of the fur of a wild animal is significantly different from its counterpart raised on a farm. His coat is not as aesthetically attractive.

What is the difference between a wild mink and an ordinary one?

Before purchasing a mink coat, be it wild or regular, you should very carefully understand the differences between them.

• Regular mink fur is shiny and has short pile. Fur color can vary from brown to brown.
• Wild mink fur, on the contrary, has a high pile, is smooth and has water-repellent properties.

So, which fur is better to give preference to? We'll figure out.

Common mink is bred all over the world in special nurseries. Its cultivation is gaining more and more large-scale momentum every year. The largest mink breeding nurseries are located in America, Russia, Denmark, Canada, and China. Depending on where the mink was raised, its fur may differ in the color of the pile and its quality. In addition, many manufacturers dye mink in different colors; after wearing it for a short time, such fur loses its color.

Wild mink is a very rare animal; its skin is much smaller than usual and its pile is much higher than that of an ordinary mink. There is only one fur color - gray-brown; with roots it is always lighter.

Fur coats from wild mink are made in very limited quantities, as this is a very expensive production. One fur coat requires a lot of skins, and they always have various damages.

Below are the main differences between a wild mink and a regular one:

• wild mink lives on the banks of rivers and reservoirs, while ordinary mink are raised on specialized farms;
• It is extremely rare to find wild mink fur on sale;
• wild mink skin is much smaller and has a higher pile;
• The skin of a wild mink has various damages resulting from living in a wild environment.

Reviews about fur coats made from wild mink are only very good.

• Customers note that a fur coat made from wild mink is quite light and does not lose its original appearance when worn for a long time.
• Fashionistas are especially pleased with the fact that models made from wild mink fur are much cheaper than those made from regular mink, and they look no worse.
• The representatives of the fair sex were also pleased that the fur from the fur coat does not shed, it shimmers beautifully not only in the sun, but also in the shade, and also has a rich color.
• Women also note that such a fur coat can be worn in severe frosts.

But some customers are worried that they have not heard of wild mink before, and therefore worry that they will not be sold a fake made from the fur of another animal.

The use of any materials without our prior written consent is prohibited.

Don't buy Honorika instead of Shanghai Leopard

“I decided to buy a mink coat. In my opinion, the beauty is unearthly! And my friend says that this is an honor. The seller assures that this is a wild steppe mink. I have some doubts - are there such animals? Tatyana V. Moscow.”

“There are such animals,” says Evgeniy TETYURKIN, senior lecturer at the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology. — Honorik is an artificially bred animal, a mixture of a ferret and a mink. Outwardly, they look like mink - black shiny fur and thick brown underfur. Some are superior in color to mink, and the quality of the fur is even higher. But now honorors are practically not bred. Therefore, it is very rare to find a fur coat made of them.

Much more often you can hear about a fur coat made from “wild steppe minks”. But remember, real minks do not live in the steppe. This is what sellers call the animal tarbagan - the Mongolian marmot. It really lives in the steppes and costs much less than mink. Be careful - fur coats made from cheap tarbagans are imported mainly from China (70-80 percent of all fakes).

How to spot a fake

1. The easiest way to distinguish a mink from a fake is to run your palm against the fur. Mink fur is soft and not prickly, but somewhat elastic. It almost immediately returns to its previous form. The tarbagan's hairs are not plastic, the fur is hard and bristling.

The guard (upper) hair of a mink is of equal size. And the groundhog has hairs of different lengths.

Compared to mink, a rabbit is too soft and too fluffy.

2. The hair of a fox dog is two-colored - black and white. And the silver fox is tricolored. Her hair is gray at the base, white in the middle, and black at the end.

3. The beaver has one of the most wearable furs, very fluffy and warm. Nutria, in contrast, is more “skinny” - the undercoat is less dense, and the upper coat (awn) is shorter.

“In general, you can fake any kind of fur,” says Tatyana REUSOVA, associate professor of the Department of Commodity Science and Technology of Raw Materials of Animal Origin named after Professor Kasparyants. - With current technologies for cutting, hair removal, plucking, dyeing (including stenciling - through a hair or two), an ordinary rabbit can easily be passed off as a leopard or a chinchilla. You understand that the durability and quality of such a “leopard” will be significantly lower than the real thing. Unfortunately, a layman is unlikely to be able to distinguish a fake.

IMPORTANT!

You may also hear the phrase: “This coat is made from Canadian sable!” Know that only Russians have sables! Therefore, in a fit of patriotism, you can safely confront the presumptuous seller: “These animals live only in Siberia!”

How long does fur last?

* Wearability - quality of fur. The higher it is, the longer the fur does not go bald or fade.

BY THE WAY

Fur coats made from pieces fall apart faster

A visitor to our blog https://blog.kp.ru/users/1231628/ Sanechka complained about her old grievance:

“Some sellers sell fur coats made from pieces to fools like me, passing them off as whole pieces!” And they are falling apart! True, this was in the third year, but the pain is still strong!

“Indeed, the more pieces, the shorter the wear period,” said our experts. - Most often it is reduced by half, or even three. But even in one-piece fur coats, pay attention to the seams: they should not be palpable, be thin and invisible. Try to check the quality - spread the fur and, having found the seam (feeling it with your fingers), carefully examine how neatly it is made, whether the threads are sticking out, etc.

THIS WILL BE USEFUL!

Look at the label

KP lawyer, presenter of the “Consumer Rights” column Anna DOBRYUKHA:

- Make sure there is a label or description on the fur coat. They must indicate:

product name;

vendor code;

price;

size;

type of fur;

the colors of his paint.

This is a mandatory condition according to the Rules for the sale of clothing and fur products. This label will help you defend your rights if the “natural” fur coat turns out to be actually faux fur. Or it turns out that the traders “disguised” one animal as another.

In the next issue of “Durilka” we will try to deal with sheepskin coats. It's no secret that very often sellers pass off artificial ones as natural. If you have encountered such fraud, write to us!

We are waiting for your letters to the address: “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, Stary Petrovsko-Razumovsky proezd, 1/23, building 1, Moscow, 125993. Make a note “Durilka” on the envelope. You can also send your stories by email:

And if you know how else customers are fooled with winter clothes - hats, felt boots - write to us! Let's cope with the approaching cold weather together! Insulation - so high quality!

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Wild mink coat

Mink fur is beautiful, warm, waterproof, shiny, with a smooth pile of brown, chestnut and brown color variations. With proper dressing, proper care and careful storage, a mink coat can last at least twenty years.

Mink for making fur coats is grown all over the globe, but primarily in Russia, the USA, Canada, China, Poland, Holland, the Baltic states and the Scandinavian countries.

On zoo farms in these countries, as a rule, the same biological species is bred - American mink. Animals differ slightly from each other, only depending on the breeding variety of a particular fur farm. It got its name from the fact that it was originally found in the forests of North America.

In the wild, wild commercial mink can be found very rarely; no more than one hundred thousand skins of this animal are mined per year. The forest species is much smaller than the farm species; the body length of a wild animal does not exceed 35 centimeters, while the length of their selective “aviary” counterparts starts from half a meter.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Mink

Mink is a small animal with smooth, predominantly brown fur. It is a valuable representative of the mustelid family and belongs to carnivorous mammals. This animal does not exceed fifty centimeters in length, of which only one tail takes up about fifteen centimeters.

There are two types of mink in the wild:

• European;
• American.

These types of minks have some differences in appearance and anatomical features, but they are insignificant. As a result of evolution and identical living conditions, these animals acquired high similarity. A characteristic feature of all minks is the presence of a special membrane between the toes. This is what makes animals excellent swimmers.

Interesting fact: The European and American species originated from completely different ancestors. The European mink evolved from the Siberian mink, while the American mink is considered a close relative of the martens.

For a very long time, the most important commercial object was the European mink. However, today it is slowly but surely being replaced by the American one. This is due to a significant reduction in the population of the species, the importation and rapid breeding of the American animal.

Interesting fact: This representative of mustelids provides seventy-five percent of the world's need for fur. There is a simple explanation for this figure - minks reproduce remarkably well in captivity.

Features of fur

Wilderness residents claim that such an animal does not exist. Therefore, most often they mean the steppe marmot.

There are several signs that distinguish a steppe mink from a regular one:

• The price of the products is significantly lower, therefore, fur coats become affordable to people with average incomes.
• The wool is rougher to the touch, the villi are of different lengths, and puff up when combed in the opposite direction.
• Dense white undercoat.
• The service life is half that of a fur coat made from regular mink.

Natural marmot fur

Still, this option is suitable for those who want to look impressive for little money. Wild field steppe mink is mined mainly for the production of products in China and other countries, the market of which is focused on mass tailoring.

How to distinguish a fur coat from a steppe animal

You should purchase any fur product only in trusted stores, without relying on the fact that they can also send you a good option by mail. It is necessary to carefully examine the product and touch it.

Short fur coat made of steppe mink fur

Steppe mink coats are made in Asian countries, since European manufacturers do not want to face many problems:

1. Most often, production is carried out illegally, because this animal is listed as endangered in many countries.
2. The fur is characterized by the presence of natural damage from life in the wild; there are many defective pieces that have to be thrown away.
3. The pieces that make up the finished steppe mink product are much smaller than those from ordinary mink. This can be explained by the fact that the animal itself is small in size.

Sometimes the fur of this animal is passed off as the skins of young nutria that died at an early age - up to three months. In order not to lose money, manufacturers deceive buyers. But such a product is easy to distinguish. The pile of steppe mink is higher and the fur looks natural. The skins of baby nutria are more like artificial ones.

Population and species status

Photo: Mink in summer

Minks are the main source of fur. Their fur is valued for its high practicality, versatility, and heat resistance. In terms of quality, American mink fur is considered to be of the highest quality than other types. Not so long ago, fur was obtained exclusively by hunting animals. Hunters skillfully set traps in winter, caught adult individuals and obtained their skins. All this has led to a rapid decline in the mink population in their historical habitat.

Very quickly, minks disappeared from many regions, and hunting ceased to satisfy people's needs for fur. From that moment on, minks began to be bred in captivity. And today the main source of fur is fur farms, and not natural animal populations. This significantly improved the situation with the number of minks in the wild, but could not completely solve it.

The population of these animals is still declining. This is influenced by various factors: pollution of water bodies, trapping of animals, interspecific rivalry. Currently, European minks are listed in the Red Books in a large number of regions of their natural range, the IUCN Red Book. Hunting these animals is prohibited in many countries of the world; their numbers and habitats are taken under enhanced protection.

How to choose the right model

According to numerous reviews, fur products made from this animal are very popular due to their good moisture-repellent properties.

Basic colors: brown, light brown or chestnut. Judging by the photo, all options look incredibly luxurious.

Manufacturers offer several styles of fur coats:

1. The classic elongated model is suitable for those who like to go out frequently. This look will impress with its flowing and shimmering pile. This is the most spectacular version of a steppe mink fur coat.
2. The product, just above the knee, is suitable for girls leading an active lifestyle for everyday wear. This can be a flared version or a straight fur coat with a belt at the waist. Fits well on any figure and hides imperfections. Also, this style is universal in terms of age.
3. The short model is designed for women who often use public transport or have their own car. This fur coat does not restrict movement and looks very modern. She favorably emphasizes the figure.

How to care for a wild mink coat

Proper operation will help to significantly extend the service life of a fur product:

• It is important to store such outerwear, even in winter, away from heat sources.
• In case of exposure to wet snow, the product is simply placed on hangers and left to dry naturally.
• During the wearing period, do not forget to comb the fur coat once every seven days with a metal comb along and against the pile.

• During operation, avoid contact with the fur of products such as perfume or hairspray, as this will lead to damage to the product and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
• After the end of the season, the fur product is taken to dry cleaning, even if it is not very dirty.

• To store wild mink fur coats, prepare free space in the closet. It should hang straight and not press against anything.
• Clothes made from this natural material should not be folded or bent. This will lead to the formation of creases.
• The product is placed in a special case made of dark material so that the pile does not wrinkle, the wool does not gather dust and does not fade.
• Sachets with dry lavender are hung in the wardrobe or anti-moth tablets are placed.
• In summer, the fur coat is taken out for ventilation in a dry room, but direct sunlight is avoided.

Fur products made from steppe mink look very expensive and last a long time if all recommendations are followed. To make the pile even more shiny, rub it with palms lightly moistened in glycerin. The cost of fur coats made from this wild animal is much lower than from ordinary mink, which does not affect the quality of the item.

Pros and cons of Canadian mink and fur coats made from this fur

A mink coat is the cherished dream of every woman. Beautiful, flowing fur captivates at first sight. One of the main advantages of mink coats is short, dense fur that is resistant to various adverse factors. When properly cared for, fur coats last a long time. Fur is warm, so mink products keep you warm even at low air temperatures.

Canadian mink coat

Mink coats from Canadian mink

Canadian mink is bred in Canada. A distinctive feature of Canadian mink fur is its short, even coat with a thick, dense underfur. This creates a velvety feeling. The color is mostly black, very deep, with a slight brown “oil” tint in the light. This is a Black Nafa mink, which has the appropriate certificates and a number assigned at auction in Toronto.

Light fur coat

Mink “Black Nafa” is an elite and very expensive type of fur. Only a few hundred skins a year receive a brand name. This is due to the strict selection that is carried out at the auction.

This brand is sold in separate lots, and not in batches, like Scandinavian mink. Skins from different fur farms vary in color and texture. According to the description, the “Black Nafa” mink should be identical in the product.

With a natural brown tint, the skins are tinted to a bluish-black color.

The color of Canadian mink may vary. In models it can be brown or pastel shades. In any color, the main difference is the short awn and thick down. The quality of the fur should not change depending on the color and should remain consistently high.

Mink

Ways to recognize a fake

Due to the exclusivity of fur, Canadian mink coats are very expensive. The quality of the fur is the highest. Unscrupulous manufacturers quite often pass off completely different fur as Canadian mink.

When purchasing a fur coat with the declared “Black Nafa” mink, you must ask for a certificate and auction number, which can be easily verified for authenticity.

Gray mink

Often, instead of mink, they try to sell a cheap marmot. The difference is that the guard hairs are of different lengths; the fur is not velvety and uneven.

They are also trying to sell Honorika fur instead of Canadian mink. It is longer and shiny, unlike matte Canadian mink. Honorik has different colors of down and guard hair.

Tarbagan fur is often passed off as Canadian mink. Tarbagan is a wild steppe mink from Mongolia. Fur coats are made in China and dyed to look like Canadian mink. A distinctive feature is the rigidity of the fur and flesh.

Fashion models

Scandinavian mink is the most common type of mink for making fur products. It is much cheaper, more shiny, and has a brown color. In order to pass off as Canadian mink, the fur is tinted.

American mink “Black Glama” is very similar to Canadian mink and is not inferior in price. Sold in Seattle in America, also has all certificates and number.

Criterias of choice

Very often they try to present black mink coats as American or Canadian mink.

Choosing a fur coat for every day

In order not to make a mistake with your choice, you need to look at the condition of the interior. Canadian mink has a very thick undercoat; the skins in a high-quality product are not stretched, so it is extremely difficult to see the undercoat. When examined, the flesh should be light - beige or with a gray tint.

Black flesh is evidence that the skins were not tinted, but painted, this is evidence of a fake. Scandinavian mink is most often dyed. In order to check the coloring, you need to run a damp white handkerchief over the fur and rub it a little.

If the scarf is stained, then it is a fake.

Canadian mink is also tinted to obtain a more uniform and deep color, but the interior remains light. Upon examination, the skin should be soft and elastic. If the skin is dry and rustling, it means the fur was processed incorrectly and will soon begin to crumble. With high-quality processing, a fur coat can last for decades without losing its appearance.

Mink coat

A distinctive feature of Canadian mink coats is also the presence of a lining made of natural silk. This is also evidence of the naturalness of the fur coat.

Description of a Canadian mink coat

Fur coats made from Canadian mink are described as luxurious products; they look chic due to their amazing texture and deep color. The fur coat is described as very soft, smooth, warm due to the thick down. According to reviews, such a fur coat is not cold even in the coldest winter.

Mostly clothes are made with a classic silhouette. But in the 2018-2019 season, the most popular are new items with a transverse style. These can be long models or a short version of a fur coat, with wide ¾ sleeves and a stand-up collar.

Classic model

Short models made from Canadian mink are very popular and comfortable to drive. The fur is very resistant to mechanical stress.

Buyers also like Canadian mink coats with a hood. In the harsh Russian winter with strong winds and snowfalls. The hood perfectly protects from wind and cold. The new items are quite expensive due to the large number of skins that go into sewing the model with a hood. Photo

Jackets, fitted fur coats, and vests for young people are made from Canadian mink. She looks beautiful in all products and is an adornment for any woman.

Choosing a fur coat

Product care

An expensive item made from Canadian mink requires special care.

• It is stored in a closet in a cool place in a special fabric case. You cannot put a polyethylene cover on a fur coat, this will ruin the fur. It is imperative to protect against moths.
• To protect the fur, bags should not be carried on the shoulder. The belt will ruin the fur beyond repair.
• You need to tie a scarf or handkerchief around your neck to prevent the collar from becoming shiny.
• If you are caught in snow or rain, you need to dry it very carefully, away from heat sources.

Mink trapeze coat

The fur coat should be taken to a trusted dry cleaner to remove dirt.

According to customer reviews, Canadian mink is a delightful fur that lasts a very long time and looks great. Judging by the description, the fur coats are very comfortable and warm.

A mink coat made from Canadian mink is aristocracy. As Coco Chanel said, “Luxury is the opposite of vulgarity.” Be luxurious in a Canadian mink coat.

Source: https://mehshub.ru/meha/kanadskoj-norki-shub

What kind of animal is this mink?

This animal is considered the king among its fur-bearing relatives. There are about 50 million of these animals in the world. The most popular are American and European minks. The body of the animal has an elongated shape and small size. It has short limbs with pronounced membranes, especially on the hind legs.

By nature they are solitary animals. The inability of these animals to run quickly and climb trees is compensated by the ability to swim and dive excellently. Their habitat is the banks of freshwater ponds overgrown with reeds, swampy lakes and small rivers. The activity of these animals occurs at night.

These predators feed on small fish, crustaceans, snails, mollusks, water rats, snakes, frogs, insects, land animals and birds. There are frequent cases of attacks by such predators on poultry.

Description and features

Mink is a predator from the order of mammals, characterized by an elongated, roll-shaped body. In appearance it is similar to a ferret; they are often confused with each other due to their similar small muzzle with small rounded ears, which are difficult to notice in the thick fur.

The animal has sharp teeth that can easily bite through a person’s palm and hang on it for a long time. To make the animal more vulnerable and open its jaws, you need to take it by the neck and blow into its nose.

Thanks to the whiskers, the mink has a well-developed sense of charm and touch, but short legs impair its ability to quickly move along the surface. The paws have toes covered with fur, between which there are swimming membranes, which are expanded on the hind legs. This allows the mink to masterfully stay afloat and nimbly dive under water, and makes its gait on land bouncing.

The mink has small eyes and very poor vision, so when hunting, the animal relies solely on its well-developed sense of smell. This gives her a huge advantage over other predators, because she can go hunting even in the dead of night. The mink has a lightning-fast reaction to moving objects, but if the prey assumes a stationary position, then it has a chance to remain unnoticed by the predator.

Males differ in size from females; the former can reach about 4 kg in weight, and the latter up to 2 kg maximum. Boys grow up to 55 cm in length, and girls up to 45 cm. The animal’s fur coat consists of short and smooth hairs, which represent ideal, bald spot-free, shiny fur.

Changing seasons have absolutely no effect on the animal's fur. Mink always has a thick coat. This allows her to dive into water with a temperature of about ten degrees Celsius without feeling the cold. And after the mink emerges from the water, the animal remains dry, since the dense fur cover practically does not get wet.

The colors of the animal are very diverse, ranging from white with a bluish tint to dark brown. Black mink was first seen in Canada, which is why it is called Canadian, and the fur of this color is considered “black diamond” and has the highest price.

Classification of mink fur

There are many types of natural mink fur. Classification is carried out depending on the habitat of the animals (wild nature or artificially created conditions), the territory of their residence, the length of the skin, the color of the guard hair and underfur. Such information is not essential when purchasing a mink coat, but without it the description of this fur would be incomplete.

Depending on the habitat (wild or artificially grown)

Animals live not only in natural conditions. Animals with valuable fur are also bred on fur farms. The owners of the rare and, accordingly, the most expensive fur are minks that live in the wild. They are characterized by long pile and rich gray-brown color. The high cost of products made from such fur is due to the fact that many of the same type of skins are required to sew it.

Animals that are raised on fur farms in China are called Chinese animals. There are also farms for breeding these animals in America and Europe. As a result of breeding activities and artificially created hybrids, about 100 shades of natural color were obtained. Thanks to this, the consumer has the opportunity to choose a fur product of almost any color. However, it is quite difficult to check the quality of a mink coat based on shades.

Area of ​​residence (Russian, American, Chinese Scandinavian)

This category includes Russian, North American (American), Chinese and Scandinavian mink. The animals were divided into such species based on their habitat. Each of the listed varieties has not only certain features in appearance, but also varying degrees of fur quality. Taking this information into account, you will be able to choose the best quality item. Information about these types of mink is presented in the table:

Blackglama mink coat

How to choose the right mink coat

Women dream of having at least one fur coat in their wardrobe, and, of course, a mink one. It is she who dreams of it throughout his life, as a standard thing that can add chic, elegance and status to the image.

Some save money on their own to buy one, others hint at a gift, but in any case, the goal is set – to have a fur coat! Since the cost of products made from such fur is high, the choice should be approached with great responsibility.

Our guide will help you navigate so you don’t later regret wasted money.

The best mink coat manufacturers - which company to choose

You can buy a mink coat in almost every fur salon. This popular fur is one of the most sought after on the market today. Manufacturers from different countries make many models from it to suit every taste and budget.

Experts insist that factory-made fur coats have more quality guarantees than those sewn in small workshops. Among the companies you should choose Russian, Greek and Italian. It is these countries that are famous for their original ideas and the quality of the products they sell.

Here are a few brands that have proven themselves:

• Bosso;
• EL-EZER;
• Factory "Kalyaev";
• MaryBelle;
• Factory "Golden Fleece".

Despite the fact that it is believed that factory production is of higher quality, it is simply necessary to check the fur coat immediately before purchasing. This will allow you not to make a mistake and make the right choice, taking home a product with excellent workmanship, fur condition and design. We advise everyone who is looking for a specific model to take a look at our rating of the best mink coats.

Structure of a mink coat

Mink coats are one of the most popular ones. The fur of this animal has exceptional characteristics. It is soft, shiny, elastic, smooth and pleasant to the touch. At the same time, it is not heavy at all, retains heat quite well, and lasts up to about ten.

You can experiment with mink using almost all available decorative processing methods. Haircuts, plucking, bleaching, laser - all this gives designers scope to create interesting models.

Wear resistance, like many other characteristics of fur, depends on where the animals were bred. Usually these are Russia, Scandinavia, Canada, USA, China and some other countries.

It is worth noting that the main one in the industry is the American type. Selection work has led to the formation of several types of mink, which vary greatly depending on climate, diet and other conditions of detention.

Russian mink

The fur of the Russian mink has characteristic features: it has a high underfur and a long guard hair. Products made from it are extremely warm, but shaggy, so to speak. The cost is inferior to North American and Scandinavian analogues.

According to statistics, only a tenth of the extracted skins meets European standards. It is best to purchase such fur coats exclusively from large enterprises that have their own animal farms.

Advantages:

• low cost;
• keeps warm;
• sophisticated look;
• wear resistance.

Flaws:

• low level of quality;
• loose underfur.

North American mink

This breed is bred on Canadian and American farms. To the touch and visually, the fur resembles velvet material. This is due to the fact that the hairline has a low spine, which is identical to the length of the dense underfur.

There are species of North American mink with the shortest possible cover, similar to plucked. Such fur coats look expensive, are soft and light in weight. Skins are purchased at special auctions or in special trading houses in the USA and Seattle.

Advantages:

• exclusive fur;
• high quality;
• velvet texture;
• service life up to ten seasons;
• retains heat well.

Flaws:

Scandinavian mink

This type of mink is one of the most common. It occupies two-thirds of the entire world market, is in demand on all continents and is popular among many manufacturers. The Scandinavian mink is distinguished by fur with a uniform dense underfur and an even spine.

In cold winter, a fur coat made from it will protect you from severe frost, as the heat is well retained inside. There are two types of pile length: short - Danish mink and long - Finnish mink. Original skins of this species are sold at Finnish or Copenhagen auctions.

Advantages:

• wide use;
• presentable appearance,
• dense underfur,
• softness;
• shine.

Flaws:

Chinese mink

This type of mink has gained wide popularity relatively recently. Up to fifteen million animal skins are supplied from China to the world market annually. Minks are raised mainly dark brown in color, the wool has a moderate underfur and a medium awn. The skins are used for the production of mass production, not exclusive products.

The original shade is often tinted or completely repainted, for example, into noble dark colors, which are more in demand among buyers. Unfortunately, only those products that have not been selected for domestic consumption are brought to Russia.

Advantages:

• low price;
• service life up to seven or ten seasons.

Flaws:

• poor quality;
• low level dressing;
• weak underfur.

wild mink

Commercial mink annually enters the world market in quantities of more than one hundred thousand skins. These animals from the natural environment are significantly smaller in size than those raised on fur farms.

The colors are usually brown with a silvery tint, where the spinal part is slightly darker than the rest of the guard hair, the underfur is lighter than the main mass, and the pile is long. Wild mink, like Chinese skins, is most often used to make fur coats for mass sales.

Advantages:

• retains heat well;
• withstands up to ten seasons of wear;
• soft;
• relatively cheap.

Flaws:

• damage from living in the wild;
• sewing requires a lot of raw materials.

Quality of fur and dressing

If the fur of a product looks faded and dull, it means that it was stored in unsuitable conditions or was processed incorrectly. Remember that the villi should be elastic, and when smoothed, without bristling, they should quickly return to their original position.

The pile, which is equal in thickness and length, is elastic and manageable, indicates that high-quality raw materials were used to make the fur coat. Also pay attention to the underfur, since it is the one responsible for preserving heat; focus on its thickness.

The flesh is the other side of the skin. It should be elastic, soft, without cracks or creaks when squeezed. Companies responsible for good production either do not use a lining at all, or always leave an unfilled area in it through which inspection can be carried out.

Processing method

There are three main methods of decorative processing of mink wool:

1. Haircut. This technology involves shortening the length of the guard hair, resulting in shorter fur. Often, cutting is combined with other processing methods, such as plucking. After this, the hairline begins to resemble velvet in texture or, if multi-level trimming was used, corduroy.

2. Pinch. The method is energy-intensive and labor-intensive; everything is done manually. The guard hairs are removed with special pliers, after which the underfur is trimmed a little. This process is effective, but expensive due to its complexity.

3. Paint and tinting. Fur with this processing method can radically change the existing color. With the help of stencil dyeing, you can color the fur even like a leopard, tiger and other predatory cats from the tropics, and with computer dyeing, you can easily apply multi-colored patterns.

Natural color

There are several color groups:

1. Dark. Scanblack (Scandinavian) and blackglama (North American) are the most popular and expensive. A brown tint is required, thanks to which it is easy to distinguish a dyed fur coat from a natural one.

2. Light. White mink is distinguished by the fact that the fur is uniform throughout the entire coat and has no shading transitions. This is the rarest species.

3. Beige. This includes standard dark brown mink. It is Russian animals that have such a noble shade, sometimes it is even chocolate. The color "mahogany" is classic, it is very beautiful and can have a slightly reddish tint.

Which mink coat to choose

1. Having a limited budget, you should opt for Russian mink. True, it will warm a little worse than more expensive types of fur, since the underfur is thin.

2. A fur coat made from Chinese animals will also be cheap, but the quality and design refinements in the models will most likely be absent.

3. Wild mink is relatively inexpensive and can retain heat well.

4. Scandinavian and especially North American mink are expensive furs. Fur coats made from them provide excellent warmth, are beautiful, sophisticated and wear-resistant.

5. The fur should be obedient, elastic and shiny, and the inside should be smooth, soft and light in color.

6. Sheared and plucked fur coats are not bad to wear, they have an interesting look and texture, and they are also softer and lighter.

7. Products that have been dyed, tinted or bleached are very interesting from the point of view of the resulting color. But fur after such treatment loses its wear resistance.

8. Dark colors are the most noble and will suit most women.

9. Among the light ones, white mink with light brown shades stands out. This option will look great on blondes.

10. A beige group of dark brown and other colors will look good on different ladies.

How much does a mink coat cost?

1. The cheapest fur coats will be made from skins of light and dark brown colors. For them you will have to pay from 120 to 300 thousand rubles.

2. In the middle price category there are products with colored piles of beige, red, blue and gray. They cost about 350 – 700 thousand rubles.

3. Mink coats of a smoky “tourmaline” color, characterized by a smooth transition of the beige undercoat to a dark shade at the tips, have a high price of approximately 500 - 900 thousand rubles.

4. Products made from natural white mink fur will be even more expensive. The cost for them will be within 1 million rubles.

5. Exclusive models in black with a tint of brown, purple and blue, reminiscent of velvet, can reach a price of 1,500 - 2 million or more.

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Source: https://vyboroved.ru/vybor/1299-kak-vybrat-norkovuyu-shubu.html

Wild mink: fur features

With the onset of cold weather, many women think about purchasing warm clothes. A fur coat is not just a source of warmth, it is an irreplaceable thing that distinguishes a girl, giving elegance, status, making the image truly luxurious. Mink coats are considered one of the highest quality and most comfortable models. They look beautiful and are also very comfortable.

Currently, such products are made from two types of fur. In stores you can find fur coats made from wild mink, photos of which are presented in this article, and those bred in captivity. When choosing the first option for a fur coat, you need to beware of fakes. In addition, when looking for a fur coat, you should remember the characteristics of your own physique. Short and plump women are well suited for short or knee-length models, while thin and tall women should pay attention to elongated models.

What is a wild mink?

You can rarely find such a model in a store. If sellers offer a wild mink coat (photo in the article below), it may actually be a painted marmot or an ordinary ferret. But such models do not last long and heat very little. At the moment, such outerwear has practically been replaced on the market. The following reasons contribute to this:

• The fur of a wild animal is often damaged, which is explained precisely by the origin of the animal. These animals feed in a very unique way, which also affects the quality of the edge. The fur becomes not very thick, and parasites often appear on it.
• Mink is a rather rare animal, once listed in the Red Book. There is an American mink, the size of which is slightly larger than our compatriot, but it is also rare. There is no point in catching these animals and using their skins in production.
• It is very difficult to find a product made from real wild animal fur. In addition, their prices are incredibly high. This is due to the huge amount of skins required to sew one model. Poachers sometimes catch animals, but the fur is used mainly for collars.
• Farms specifically breed minks for fur coats. Animals are fed appropriately and receive the vitamins they need. Consequently, such individuals have thick and fluffy fur.

European mink is a “supplier” of ladies’ fur coats

The content of the article

The European mink is a mammal from the genus of ferrets of the mustelidae family and the order of carnivores.

Appearance of European mink

The body of the animal is slightly arched and elongated. The body weight of an adult European mink can reach 1 kg, body length 30 – 45 cm, tail length 20 cm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTbpiKAMhw

The limbs are short, but quite strong. The semi-aquatic lifestyle of this mammal can be judged by the wide interdigital membranes, which leave only the terminal phalanges of the fingers free. The mink's body is covered with thick, shiny fur, which hides an equally thick undercoat. The fur on top of the body is so dense that the undercoat almost always remains dry.

The fur on the body of the European mink is chestnut-brown, brown or dark brown. There are white spots on the lower neck and chest. The animal's chin and lips are completely white.

European mink (Mustela lutreola).

The fur on the sides and belly is colored lighter than the back. The animal's tail is almost black. The color of the European mink's undercoat can be described as ash-gray-brown.

Habitat of the European mink

In the past, the habitat of this mammal covered the forest areas of the Caucasus, the European continent (with the exception of the north-west and extreme south), as well as the regions of Western Siberia, which are adjacent to the Urals. However, the last few decades have been characterized by a sharp decrease in the area of ​​mink habitat. Within Western Europe, the European mink currently lives only in Finland, the Balkans, Poland and Western France. In the European part of the Russian part of the range, there are significantly more minks, but even here the population is decreasing.

The European mink is listed in many species of the Red Book. The reason for this reduction remains unclear, but there is an assumption that the mink’s habitat area is decreasing due to the development of hydropower, as well as the successful acclimatization of the American mink, which is a serious competitor to the European mink.

Lifestyle of the European mink

The life of this mammal is inextricably linked with water bodies. In the forest zone, the mink lives along the banks of small flowing ponds. Mink often settle on the gently sloping banks of forest streams and rivers overgrown with alder and thick grass. In such landscapes, the animal can easily find shelter and food. Individuals living in the steppe zone penetrate there precisely through the valleys of large rivers. These rivers create the conditions necessary for the existence of the European mink. In the steppe zone, the animal settles in thickets of river deltas and floodplains. Mink is also found on the banks of ponds and large lakes, which are located away from river beds. The mink also penetrates into the foothills through river valleys.

The European mink lives in places near water bodies.

Here the animal lives on the forested banks of rivers with steep banks, riffles and fairly intense currents.

In winter, these mammals stay in bodies of water where there are ice-free polynyas. In such holes they can easily hide from enemies and also find food for themselves. For these reasons, in winter the mink avoids completely frozen bodies of water. Also, in the cold season, the animal can stay near beaver colonies, since their system of passages is very convenient for quickly penetrating under the ice. In the summer, European minks especially love bodies of water, where whirlpools and rapids give way to whirlpools and quiet areas.

It’s not for nothing that the mink was named that way - it lives in holes.

Mink shelters are located in close proximity to water bodies. Minks usually use burrows as shelters. She leaves them only in conditions of lack of food or flooding. Usually the animal digs a hole itself, but sometimes it uses other people’s holes, for example, the passages of water rats. Such a hole is uncomplicated, simple and shallow. The hole has two entrances, a main chamber, and a latrine.

The bedding in the main chamber is made of moss, leaves, bird feathers and dry grass. In forest areas, mink can also settle in low-lying hollows of thick trees. During high water, heaps of windfall, haystacks, overhangs of steep banks and tree roots become unstable shelters for the European mink.

The mink is quite clean and arranges a latrine outside the main dwelling.

European mink nutrition

The mink preys on many small animals that live near the reservoir and directly in it. The main element of the animal's menu is various types of mouse-like rodents, small fish and amphibians. Among amphibians, the first place is occupied by frogs and their eggs, among rodents - water rats. The fish menu of the European mink includes pike, minnows, tenches, and perches. In the northern part of the range, near trout streams, brown trout become the mink's usual prey. In the winter season, the animal feeds mainly on fish.

What is the difference between a mink and a wild mink?

How is the fur of these animals different and how to choose the right fur coat for yourself? Here are a number of differences that will help you understand all the nuances:

• Wild animals live on the banks of lakes and rivers; ordinary animals can be raised on a farm.
• It is very rare to find wild mink on sale. Sellers should not be trusted, even if they prove otherwise to you. Only the certificate is important.
• Farm animals can be dark chestnut or brown in color. In wild ones it is much darker.
• The wild animal is small in size, but its pile is much higher.
• Farm animals have richer and thicker fur, while wild animals often have damage on their fur.

Therefore, there is no need to chase wild mink fur, since its quality is not always high. At the moment there is a large selection of all kinds of fur coats for every budget and taste.

A mink short fur coat is a universal model suitable for active women. Models made of colored fur are incredibly popular, they look festive and extraordinary. You should not think that only a very rich girl can afford a fur coat. Exhibitions and sales will help you buy a beautiful product at an affordable price.

The common mink is bred all over the planet in specialized nurseries. Its cultivation is gaining momentum every year. The largest nurseries for raising these animals are located in Russia, America, Canada, Denmark, and China. Depending on where the mink was raised, its fur may differ in the quality of the pile and its color. In addition, manufacturers very often dye mink in different colors, however, such fur loses its color after wearing it for a short time.

The wild mink is a very rare animal, the color of its fur is only gray-brown, with the roots always being a little lighter.