No matter how experienced you are with purchasing and owning fur, there’s always something new to learn. The industry has made considerable advancement since its initial beginnings and, because of this, the way fur is made and the quality we can expect from products on the market has also improved. That’s why it’s important to know how to gauge which real fur accessories are worth buying over others. Whether you’re on the verge of buying one of your first vintage fur coats or already own a sizeable collection, we hope this blog will help you to make smarter, more informed purchasing decisions.

Is It the Real Deal?

You don’t want to splurge on a gorgeous fur coat only to learn after the fact that it isn’t real fur! Before you make your purchase or even try the coat on, you should first test the fur to make sure it’s authentic. One of the first things you should do is examine the fur’s lining. Real fur will be attached to a leather backing and there may be a place within it that you can open up to look further inside.

You should also look closely at the fur itself and the way it is structured. Is the fur completely even from the root to the tip? If so, this is a sign the apparel doesn’t use real fur! The fur attached to real fur accessories comes to a point toward the tip of each hair. If you run your hand along the fur, it should feel very plush and soft to the touch.

Where Did the Fur Come From?

You don’t want to buy vintage fur coats made in just any country. Certain parts of the world are more renowned for producing high-quality furs than others. The best real fur accessories tend to come from globally-certified auctioneers. Try to keep an eye out for fur apparel from these organizations:

• KOPENHAGEN
• NAFA
• ALC
• SAGA

Examine the Labels

Most, but not all, real fur accessories you find on the market will have some sort of labels. We encourage you to search for these labels within the inside of the coat in order to help gauge its quality. At the same time, we must also offer a point of warning: a label doesn’t automatically ensure the coat’s quality. Some gorgeous, high-quality coats have no labels at all, while some very poorly made coats come with labels attached. That’s why it’s important to also keep our above two points in mind.

There are three important labels to keep an eye out for: the country label of the coat’s manufacturer, the label’s origins and the label naming the brand that made the coat.

It is our hope that this article has given you a much better idea of how to approach shopping for vintage fur coats and other real fur accessories. Our team at Morris Kaye Furs in Dallas and San Antonio make it our mission to provide all of our current and potential clients with the necessary resources to obtain only the highest quality furs. To learn more about our services and sample our inventory, we encourage you to contact us!