With today's wide variety of fur fashion, your choices are endless. So give some thought to your purchase: How will you wear your fur? Will you wear your fur jacket with jeans on the weekends to sporting events or out with friends? Or will you enjoy the luxury and warmth of your 3/4 length fur every day on your drive to work? Maybe you're looking to add the perfect touch of sophistication to your evenings out with a handsome full length fur. Once you decide which fur best fits your lifestyle, its time to start looking.

Whatever type of fur you choose:

• Check to see that the pelts are lustrous, supple and well-matched.
• Feel the fur carefully. There should be dense, soft underfur that is evident to the touch under the glossy guard hairs, which should also be soft, never bristly.
• Seams should be sewn tightly. Hems should fall straight.
• Be sure to try the garment on to see if the weight is comfortable for you. You may be surprised at how lightweight many fur coats actually are.
• When you try on a well-made fur, it should be well-balanced, falling evenly and comfortably from your shoulders.
• There should be "give" to the leather side of the fur when horizontal tension is applied.

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Beaver
Sheared Beaver: Soft, velvety texture, evenly sheared. Often dyed in new fashion colors. Very durable.
Natural Beaver: Long, lustrous guard hairs over thick underfur.

Chinchilla
A short, dense, soft fur with lustrous slate blue guard hairs and dark underfur.

Coyote
A long-haired fur, often pale gray or tan in color, with thick, soft underfur. Very durable fur.

Ermine
Very silky white guard hairs and dense underfur.

Fisher
Silky guard hairs in brown to blackish tones and thick underfur. Very durable fur.

Fitch
Long guard hairs over light-colored underfur. Color ranges from pale ecru to orange tones, with black markings.

Fox
The widest range of natural colors of any fur except mink. Long, lustrous guard hairs with thick, soft underfur. Fox varieties include silver, cross, crystal, blue, red, gray, and white. Can also be dyed in a wide variety of colors.

Lamb
Broadtail Lamb: A natural flat moire pattern. Natural colors include brown, black and gray. Often dyed in more exotic colors.
Mongolian Lamb: Very long, wavy, silky guard hairs. Its natural color is off-white, but is often dyed.
Mouton Lamb: Pelts are sheared closely for a soft, thick, flat fur.
Persian Lamb: From karakul sheep raised in Central Asia or Southwest Africa, fur features flat silky curls. Natural colors are black, brown, and gray.
Shearling: Natural lamb pelts with the leather side sueded or leatherized and worn on the outside with the fur on the inside.

Lynx
Canadian Lynx: Displays creamy white tones with characteristic darker markings.
Russian Lynx: The whitest and softest of this very long-haired fur with very subtle beige markings. The whiter the fur, the higher the value.

Marten
American Marten: Long silky guard hairs and dense underfur. Color ranges from blue-brown to dark brown.
Baum Marten: Softer, silkier and shinier than American marten.
Stone Marten: The finest marten has soft, thick guard hairs and a bluish-brown cast with pale underfur.

Mink
Soft and lightweight with lustrous guard hairs and dense, soft underfur. Primarily farm-raised, mink remains the most popular fur. Female pelts are smaller in size and have a softer, silkier feel than the larger male pelts. Mink can be dyed in a wide range of colors and may be sheared for a sporty, casual look. Very durable fur.

Muskrat
Fur is full and thick with a black stripe and pale beige sides. Often sheared for a sporty, lightweight feel.
New Jersey Muskrat: Lighter in weight with contrasting colors.
Northern Muskrat: Strong, longer guard hairs and heavy, thick underfur. Often worked skin-on-skin.
Southern Muskrat: Flatter with little underfur, usually pale in color.

Nutria
Similar to beaver, it is often sheared for a sporty, more lightweight feel. Underfur is very soft and plush. A popular fur for linings and trims, it is frequently dyed in a variety of colors.

Opossum
American Opossum: Long, silvery black-tipped guard hairs with thick underfur. Australian Opossum: Short, dense, plush-like fur, with colors ranging from yellow-gray to natural brown.

Rabbit
Generally medium length guard hairs in a variety of natural colors. Often sheared or grooved. Not very durable, sheds easily.

Raccoon
Long gray/black guard hairs with silvery tips over a woolly, dense underfur. Very durable fur.
Finn Raccoon: Long, thick tan guard hairs with black tips and dense underfur.

Sable
Long, luxurious guard hairs with dense underfur, yet very lightweight.
Russian Sable: Brown with a silver cast, it is the most expensive fur, especially when there is an abundance of silver hairs.
Canadian Golden Sable: In amber tones, somewhat less expensive. Very durable.

Squirrel
Short, soft guard hairs with a flatter, dense underfur. Very lightweight.

Tanuki
Also called Japanese Raccoon with very long guard hairs and a full texture. Color is light amber brown with dark, distinctive markings.

Weasel
Similar look to mink, with short guard hairs and semi-dense underfur.
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Every fur represents weeks of specialized labor and fine hand craftsmanship. Furriers have specialized skills which often have been handed down from generation to generation. The creation of each fur requires meticulous workmanship. The following terms describe some of the elements involved:

Brightener Added
A process which enhances the color of a fur.

Dyeing
Process of applying dye to create a new color. Dyeing is sometimes also used to correct any imperfections and to improve uniformity. Sometimes the pelt is bleached white before color is added.

Guard Hair
Long, lustrous outer hair that protects the underfur.

Knitted Fur
A new technique that produces a soft, comfortable, fur-in/fur-out look and feel.

Leathering
Insertion of ribbon, cloth or leather strips along with fur strips. May be done for fashion or to lighten the weight of the fur.

Letting out
Cutting the pelt into diagonal strips and resewing it to make the pelt longer and narrower. Sometimes referred to as "dropping out." The effect is supple and smooth flowing.

Mutation
Natural furs of special colors that are produced by selective breeding.

Plucking
To emphasize the velvet underhair of the fur. All guard hairs are plucked before shearing.

Shearing
Cutting fur to a short, uniform pile.

Shearling
Natural lamb pelts with the leather side often sueded and worn on the outside.

Skin-on-Skin
Rectangular pelts are sewn together to create a box effect as an alternative to the letting out process.

Tip-dyeing
Sometimes called blending. Dye is applied only to the tips of guard hairs to produce more color uniformity.

Underfur
The underhair covered by guard hairs. This is the layer of fur that acts as insulation to provide warmth.
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1	Warmth Fur is nature's most beautiful answer to Winter. Warmth is the number one reason to own a fur coat, according to a recent poll of fur buyers.
2	Fashion Modern and either casual or elegant, fur is always in style. More than 150 top international designers are now using fur in there collections.
3	Long-lasting Fur is naturally durable fiber that lasts for many, many years.
4	Re-styleable As styles change, your fur can be updated and re-styled to reflect the latest fashion time and time again.
5	Environmentally friendly A fine natural product, fur is bio-degradable and a renewable resource.
6	Versatile Fur can be worn for all occasions. Whether with jeans or an evening gown, wearing fur will make you look and feel terrific! With lighter weight furs and fur accessories, furs are now a three-season fashion.
7	Supporting livelihoods and cultures When you buy a fur, you support thousands of people living on the land - people who have a direct interest in protecting vital wildlife habitat. The fur trade is a proud North American heritage.
8	Responsible conservation Furs used in the trade are abundant. Strict government controls ensure that NO endangered species are ever used.
9	Comfort Soft, sensual, cozy and lightweight - nothing equals the feeling of wearing a fur.
10	Fur is your choice The fur trade is a responsible, well-regulated industry. You can feel proud of your choice to wear natural fur.

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1	What is the difference between female and male mink coats? Female mink is generally lighter in weight, softer and more supple that male mink. Additionally, female pelts have a high luster, are very silky and soft and are more adaptable to tailoring and draping. Male mink is often used to create a different fashion look and is also of excellent quality.
2	Where should I go to buy a fur coat? Always buy a fur from a reputable fur salon or fur retailer. In this way, you are assured of customer service, plus a variety of styles and price ranges from which to choose.
3	How much should I spend for a good quality fur coat? Always buy the best quality fur in your price range. Some factors that determine cost are fur quality, type of fur, craftsmanship, style and the designer name. Other factors include the length, size, and sweep of the garment.
4	Is a sheared fur as warm as an unsheared fur? Yes. The warmth of the fur is determined by the underfur, which acts as insulation. Whether or not the guard hairs have been sheared, the underfur remains.
5	Does dyeing a fur affect its quality? Yes, but in a very minimal way. The fur may not be quite as soft as it was in its natural form.
6	Will rain ruin a fur? A mild rain will not harm your fur. Just hang the garment to dry in a well-ventilated room, away from direct heat. After it is dry, give the fur a vigorous shake. If your fur gets thoroughly soaked, bring it to us immediately for proper treatment so that oils can be applied to the leather side of the fur to maintain its suppleness. In some cases, the silk lining may need to be replaced.
7	What is shearling? Shearling is natural lamb with the leather side often sueded and dyed colors. The sueded side is worn on the outside with the fur on the inside.
8	Are long-hair furs warmer that short-hairs furs? No. Warmth is determined by the dense underfur. The outer guard hairs give the various furs their individual characteristics.
9	What can I do with an old fur that I inherited from my mother? If a fur has been cared for properly over the years (annual storage and cleaning) there are many options available. The style can be updated into a more modern silhouette. It can also be used as a liner by having an outer shell made in a fabric such as micro-fiber, cashmere or leather.
10	How do I respond to those that question my choice to wear fur? You can feel proud to wear fur because it is a natural product and a responsible, well-regulated industry. People have every right to appreciate the qualities of fine, natural products such as leather, wool, silk, down, shearling and fur.

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