Our Blog | Chicago, IL | Andriana Furs (2024)

FAQs

What was the most sought after fur? ›

The top three most expensive and coveted furs around the globe are sable, lynx and chinchilla. Each of these furs possess characteristics that make them unique, extremely luxurious and highly sought-after.

It is worn by indigenous people and the Inuit people for many years, and it is because fur offers amazing insulating qualities. Fur, while not as popular as it once was, is still worn and produced these days. Countries such as China, Denmark, and Poland are known to be their biggest producers.

Many antique items are more valuable than their modern counterparts, or have held their value well. Unfortunately fur coats are not one of these. While new fur coats are very expensive, vintage furs have value too, but it is limited. Compared to modern furs, vintage fur coats are heavier.

All furs are cleaned using a special non-immersion process commonly referred to as the furrier method. Linings are hand cleaned to remove make-up, dirt and stains. Furs are gently tumbled with solvent impregnated powders.

Russian sable is still the most prized and expensive fur in the world for its legendary silky quality, rarity and light weight.

The Color of the Mink

Blue Iris, brown and black tend to be the most desired colors and, therefore, the most expensive. Dark brown is sold less often and can be found with a smaller price tag. There are several other different colors that are not quite as popular and are easier to find as well as cheaper.

The value of a vintage mink coat depends on a variety of factors, including the condition, size, brand and quality. A small mink coat could sell for under $300 while a top designer coat could sell for over $10,000.

Since the early noughties, the use of fur among the world's foremost luxury fashion houses has steadily declined. The production of mink and other pelts–an industry valued at $1.8 billion in the late 80s–has declined in America by around 45 percent in the last 20 years, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Animal prints have been a popular trend in fashion for many years, and they are still going strong in 2023. Animal print fur coats, such as leopard or cheetah, add a touch of wildness to any outfit. They are perfect for those who want to make a statement and stand out in a crowd.

“Real, natural fur coats are typically kept for 30 years or more, passed down as meaningful heirlooms from generation to generation or sold as vintage furs worn or repurposed,” says Kaplan. “Fake fur, on the other hand, is usually kept for six years or less.”

How long do furs last? ›

As long as you purchase a good quality fur from a reputable furrier it should last more than long enough to justify the cost. Although the longevity of fur varies from one type to another, a good quality mink coat, with proper care (storage and cleaning every year) can last up to 20 years or more.

Designer-oriented consignment and vintage clothing stores often deal in used (or "estate," as they prefer to say) furs. Specialist fur resellers and consignment platforms are in abundance online, too. Though you have to split the proceeds with them, they do take all of the hassles out of selling your garment.

A storage area that is too moist can encourage your fur to rot or mold, while a space that is too dry can cause the fur and leather to become brittle. A dedicated cold storage area keeps the humidity at a consistent level so that your fur is not too wet and not too dry.

Every single fur coat especially those made up of all natural fur, need professional cleaning at least once or twice a year. Its recommended to clean your coats during the summer time when the coats are no longer in use.

A real fur coat isn't something you can throw in your washing machine or even wash by hand. Just like your skin and hair, real fur pelts require natural oils to keep them in great condition.

During its peak, in the early 1980s, a mink coat typically cost $8,000 to $50,000 but could go above $400,000 for all-belly black Russian mink. Today it's a different story.

Mink fur coats can last a lifetime with proper care. You have probably heard of at least one person who inherited a beautiful mink fur coat from a relative who passed away.

While today a mink coat can cost upwards of $10,000, in 1960 they were much more affordable. In fact, a good quality mink coat would have cost around $1,500 – which is equivalent to around $12,000 today.

Donate to an animal shelter

Many animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres accept donations of second hand coats. This makes another way to turn an old fur coat into a tool for helping animals.

YES it is ethical and it is also GOOD for many reasons. Wearing vintage fur is a way to recycle them. Wearing vintage fur will also add a significant amount of fur back to the markets making unnecessary new fur.

Is faux fur in style 2023? ›

For the fall 2023 season, both luxury and contemporary collections hit all the top trends of the season, spanning from quiet luxury and sharp tailoring to puffers, faux fur and leather, across the outerwear category.

Millennials are always finding a way to take what's old and make it new again. Fur, with its deep-rooted history in the fashion world, is being worn by the younger generation in unique and refreshing ways.

When should you wear a fur coat? Speaking of the season, we should also talk about when you should wear a fur coat. To be honest, you can wear it anytime you want, but of course, because its main function is to keep you warm, you should only wear it during Spring, Autumn, and the Winter months.

Beaver pelts were in the greatest demand, but other animals such as mink, muskrat, fox and sable marten were also trapped.

Sable continues to be the world's most valuable fur. The most sought-after sable furs in the world come from the Barguzin region of Siberia.

Characterized by their dense, velvety texture, chinchilla fur is one of the most expensive and luxurious of all fur types.

All furs were high in price during the Depression years, in contrast to most other commodities. I recall in 1935 The Thompson Company paying $1 to $1.50 for large prime possum, $10 to $15 for well-stretched prime coon (raccoon), and $8 to $10 for female mink or up to $25 for large bore mink.

And which one is the softest fur in the world? High quality natural chinchilla fur is unbeatable when it comes to softness, and chinchilla coats actually take the top prize for being the softest fur coats around.

The peaco*ck's extravagant plumage makes it one of the most beautiful — and colorful — animals on earth. Native to Asia and Africa, the peaco*ck is bound to be on a list of the world's most beautiful animals. Its jewel-like coloration and the male's stupendous train are unignorable.

When Europeans came to North America, beaver lived in almost every region that had streams and creeks. The newcomers trapped the beaver for its pelt. Its soft under-fur was highly valued for making men's hats. As Europeans and then Americans moved westward, they trapped so much that beaver nearly disappeared.

What is the oldest fur trade company? ›

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), chartered 2 May 1670, is the oldest incorporated joint-stock merchandising company in the English-speaking world. HBC was a fur trading business for most of its history, a past that is entwined with the colonization of British North America and the development of Canada.

China has been the world's largest importer of fur pelts and the largest exporter of finished fur products.

In the 1830s silk was introduced to England, lowering the demand for and price of beaver fur. Combined with over-trapping, this lowered demand greatly changed the the fur trade and the relationships between traders and Native Americans. By the 1870s, fur trading had mostly died out.

Here is a rating of the warmest furs (in descending order): Beaver, Arctic fox; Deer; Silver fox; Sheared sheepskin; Sable; Rabbit.

Chinchillas come from the Andes Mountains in South America. They have the densest fur of any animal aside from the sea otter. Considered the softest animal in the world, chinchillas have 80-100 hairs per hair follicle (hole that hair grows out of), where humans only have 1-2.

In China, the biggest market for mink fur, mink farmers increased production after Denmark's cull caused prices to spike. And Saga Furs, a Finnish auction house, held an auction this month of more than 800,000 pelts.

The best Western and Canadian raccoon are averaging $7-9, with Eastern collections bringing about $2 on average. The lack of demand in China and Russia have impacted this market.

The industry has seen a decline in recent years, as consumers, retailers, designers turn their backs on real fur, and politicians vote in favour of fur production bans and, increasingly, fur sales bans. Annual fur production: 2014: Europe 43.6m, China 87m, North America 7.2m, Russia 1.7m.