Selling Grandma’s Vintage Fur | Ever So Scrumptious (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with grandma's old fur coat? ›

You can donate it to shelters where people are in need of warm clothing or you can also donate it to organizations that use them to make warm beddings for animal shelters.

You can use sites such as Craigslist, eBay, Cashforfurcoats.com, and Buymyfur.com. In order to sell your fur quickly, you might consider asking 10-20% less than what the coat was appraised for.

If you plan to sell the coat yourself, obtaining an appraisal is highly recommended: Determining the value of a garment really requires an inspection by a fur appraiser to determine its current market value. Simply locate a professional furrier (either in your local area or online) to do this on your behalf.

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. Fur also gets damaged over time – delicate furs like beaver, chinchilla, and rabbit get damaged quickly.

Fur coats never seem to go out of style, and have the potential to bring in values of up to thousands of dollars or more.

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.

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.

For those luxury brands that are continuing to use fur, the focus is on China, the country most important to the $22 billion worldwide fur trade.

As I've said in the past, the modern fur market is global. Unlike the historic market, where a great deal of domestic production was consumed in North America, today's market relies on buyers in China, Greece, Italy, Russia and Korea.

The Feel Test

Feel the difference by touching the hairs between the finger and thumb. Real fur feels very soft and smooth to touch, easily rolls between fingers. The fake fur is rough to the touch. It may become sticky in wet weather and may have the same feel as a stuffed animal toy.

How can you tell if a vintage fur is real? ›

Look at the base

Part the hair to see how it is attached. “Animal fur has a leathery backing because it's attached to the animal's skin, whereas faux fur will have a material woven backing.” Hairs on real fur will also be different lengths, while faux fur tends to be more uniform.

If you feel the texture, most fur coats will feel coarse if you push the fur upwards. In contrast, sable and mink fur will feel soft. Mink furs are shorter in length and flat because the animal itself is small, no bigger than the size of a squirrel.

Washing a real fur coat can subject it to irreparable damage. Unlike faux fur, when you invest in a real fur coat, it's important to get it cleaned by a professional furrier or a dry cleaner at least once a year.

CLEANING THE COAT

The alcohol and vinegar remove the dirt and mildew smells from the fur. The hydrogen peroxide eats the stains. You can spray the solution on the lining as well. Allow the fur to dry and air out for a day or two, then store it in a cool dry place with a COTTON pillow case over the top of it.

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.

Fur Coat Trends in 2022-Long or Short? The floor-length coats are back in style this season. The length in women's fur coats in 2022 is the elongated classic for an impressive and elegant look. They are often simple and monochrome and in a straight cut.

A good mink coat, for example, which could be bought for $3,000 in the 1960's, today carries a retail pricetag of more than $5,000.

You can resell your coat for money, or donate it to some charity. Alternatively, you can repurpose it to make other accessories, such as pillows and cushion covers, a new fur coat or any other fur garment.

Mink furs are short and flat because the animal itself is very tiny, no bigger than the size of a squirrel. This fur type has narrow and long pelts when joined together to create a piece of clothing. It looks very shiny and wet because the animal can swim so, the hair looks almost like aquatic skin.

Mink fur is the most popular fur traded worldwide. Its fur is durable, and the hairs are rather short, but very thick and soft.

What fur types are rare? ›

In a nutshell the rare furs are Albino, Melanistic, Piebald, Crested (Wildebeast only), Spirit (Brown Bears only) and Leucistic (sp?). Mule deer have two kinds of Piebalds. One is mostly dark brown with patches of lighter brown and the other is the conventional patchwork of white and brown.

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

Animal rights campaigns, government regulations, and changing trends have pushed the fur industry into decline. Back in the day, working in the fur industry was a profitable business for furriers like Jerry Sorbara. He opened his store in New York in 1975, a time when fur was a regular feature on the runway.

However, many trends are cyclical and may come back every few years. Conversely, fur coats are part of something we call “Timeless Fashion,” as they are in style all the time. It has remained consistent throughout the past decades, and there is no reason to believe that it will go out of style any time soon.

Fur needs to be maintained to make sure it lasts a long time; a high quality fur coat has an average lifespan of about twenty years - this period can be longer depending on the type of fur. To keep it intact, it needs specific actions and care so that it does not get damaged.

Good-quality raccoon pelts may bring in $10-$15. Top quality beaver pelts may bring in $25 or more, but you can also sell your lower-quality beaver pelts for the hat market.

If you are looking for a fur coat buyer you are in the right place. We buy many types of used or vintage furs including mink, fox, and lamb. The styles of furs we buy include coats, jackets, and shawls.

Fur coats never seem to go out of style, and have the potential to bring in values of up to thousands of dollars or more.

That depends on the type of fur. It is not unusual to see well-made mink coats that are still in good condition after 20-25 or more years of use. Beaver and Persian (karakul) Lamb, as well as raccoon and coyote are also very durable furs. Chinchilla, the softest of all the furs, is more fragile.

Shake the coat out regularly and brush it when needed.

You don't want dirt to accumulate anywhere on your fur as it can cause matting. Only brush when you notice the hair ruffled after or during use, and never go against the grain. Use a soft-bristled brush or wide-toothed comb.

What is the best kind of fur? ›

Mink is one of the world's most popular fur choices with good reason. It's soft, plush, lightweight and durable, and comes in more natural colors than any other fur. These colors include pearls, blues, lavenders and browns, and the fur is short but very thick and strong.

One proven approach is to place an open bag of coffee grounds with your fur coat inside a closed garment bag. Leave the fur in the bag with the coffee grounds until the coat smells like coffee and the musty smell is entirely gone, which can take anywhere from one day to a week.

Garment labels give consumers important purchasing information. If you manufacture, import or sell fur garments — whether coats, capes, stoles or parkas — you must comply with the labeling requirements under the Fur Products Labeling Act (FPLA).

You should inspect your fur coats for dry rot. This condition occurs when the natural oils in the hide dry out, which causes the skins to become thin. Common signs of dry rot include tears in the neckline, pockets, and shoulders. If your coat sheds its fur, this is another sign of dry rot.

The terms fur and hair are often used interchangeably when describing a dog's coat, however in general, a double coat, like that of the Newfoundland and most livestock guardian dogs, is referred to as a fur coat, while a single coat, like that of the Poodle, is referred to as a hair coat.

In order to remove stains from a natural fur coat, you should not throw your coat in an at-home washing machine. Although, if you have a fresh stain on your coat, quickly dab the coat with a clean cloth. Then, use another clean cloth that is slightly damp, to gently blot the stain. Lastly, allow the coat to air dry.

Fur is a natural, organic material, and like all such materials will quickly disintegrate and biodegrade unless preventive measures are taken.

Mix 1 part isopropyl alcohol with 1 part water and apply it directly to the stain. Because fur coats are delicate, you should always avoid using any type of cleaner or solvent, and use as little water as possible. Rub the stain gently with a white cloth and allow to dry.

Allow your coat to drip dry, keeping it away from direct heat or sunlight for 24 hours. NEVER dry your faux fur coat in a tumble dryer, as the heat could melt the fur's fibres, causing irreversible damage.

Keep the coat out of direct sunlight.

Direct sunlight can dry out a fur coat and cause it to begin shedding. To avoid this, store the coat in a cool, dark place where it is not exposed to light or heat.

What years were fur coats popular? ›

By the late 1940s and early '50s, Hollywood stars were wrapping themselves in fur items like chinchilla hats, ermine gloves, lynx scarves, sable stoles, fox boots and, of course, mink coats.

Fur coats, associated with luxury and important social status, will always be in fashion. Designers propose new and interesting ideas every year related to length, color, type or model used.

04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, in voting to approve the America COMPETES Act, the U.S. House of Representatives included a provision to ban mink farming throughout the United States, signaling disapproval of an industry that harms and kills animals for their pelts, exports them to China for a sliver of elite ...

What could PETA possibly want with your old fur? Your donation of unwanted fur coats, stoles and trim will help us enormously with our educational displays and anti-fur “fashion shows” and provide bedding for needy animals.

Don't forget the leftovers.

The experts at Jacques Ferber can turn your coat into beautiful accessories like scarves, collars, cuffs, head wraps and even handbags. They can also take any leftover fur from a restyle and use it to make your accessories, including a memory teddy bear and/or pillows.

An old fur coat could make a great fur collar, scarf, or hat. We've also been told of someone who had an old fur turned into glove liners.

Maybe consider selling them and making a donation to a charity. You could sell and donate the money to an animal charity.

To conclude, fur coats are still valuable even in 2021 because people have not stopped purchasing them. People have shifted from old fur coats to novel fur coats because of the style and quality. The quality of fur coats is outdated due to which old fur coats hold more of a sentimental value than the monetary value.

However, many trends are cyclical and may come back every few years. Conversely, fur coats are part of something we call “Timeless Fashion,” as they are in style all the time. It has remained consistent throughout the past decades, and there is no reason to believe that it will go out of style any time soon.

If you feel the texture, most fur coats will feel coarse if you push the fur upwards. In contrast, sable and mink fur will feel soft. Mink furs are shorter in length and flat because the animal itself is small, no bigger than the size of a squirrel.

Can you wear vintage fur? ›

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.

Fur coats are typically made of mink, sable, chinchilla, fox or lynx. Here is a break-down on these most popular fur pelts so you can tell the difference: Mink: This is the highest-selling fur worldwide. Mink is lightweight compared to other furs.

Due to everchanging legal matters and new laws, it is often illegal to sell numerous types of fur. Most of these are of the vintage variety that was originally a species that sold for thousands before the animal became endangered.