Types of Fur Explained

A mink fur coat is one of the most common types of fur coats you'll spot when visiting a big, cold city. Mink are a type of weasel that can be found in the wild in some parts of North‑America. Almost all of the mink pelts used in fur coats are produced in fur ranches as those pelts are superior, both in quality as in durability, to pelts found in the wild. Mink is very durable but the colour of an undyed mink coat will lighten over time. Mink hairs are fairly short but very soft and female mink produce even softer, although smaller, fur pelts. All these attributes have made sure that mink is one of the most popular types of fur used in fur coats. A mink fur coat is not only great at keeping you warm, it will also function as a fashion statement.

The badger is a short legged mamal that is part of the Mustelidae family. It's snout is distinctly recognizable by the black and white stripes adorning it. The animal can be found on every continent but it is most commonly spotted in North America and Europe. The pelt of the badger has long hairs and is really heavy. That's why most badger coats alternate between strips of leather and strips of fur. Coats made with this patern are lighter but, unfortunately, less durable than full badger fur coats (a full badger fur coat, without this patern, can be seen in the picture below). North american badger is softer and fuller than types of badger found on other continents. Badger fur coats, without the pattern, are really durable and can be worn for several decades. It is an unique fur coat that is fairly uncommon so I'd highly recommend buying one if you like the distinct look.

Sable fur coats are mostly produced in Russia because the Russian government reserves the rights to all the breeding stock available in the wild and on ranches. There are three auctions held every year where Russian sable fur pelts are sold to buyers. The earnings of these auctions go directly to the Russian government. Sable is part of the marten family and the sable is considered the most luxurious type of marten there is. They have really soft and fairly durable pelts which also happen to be rather light weight. Sable fur coats may be fairly light but they are really, really expensive. However, their lack in weight should not be mistaken for a lack of warmth (that is one of the reasons sable fur coats are popular in Russia, where temperatures can drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius). The hefty price tag has caused the sable fur coat to be considered by many as a luxury product. The undeniable high price has resulted in a surge in popularity for other, cheaper, types of fur.

Fox fur is probably the most famous and well known type of fur on the planet. There are several types of natural fox fur pelts; blue fox, gray fox, red fox, white fox and silver fox are probably the most popular ones. All these different types of foxes were brought forth by mutations which were a result of extensive breeding done by fur ranchers. The fact that we have thick silver fox fur coats nowadays is purely a (lucky) coincidence. Fox fur pelts have rather long hairs and, in the right lighting conditions, their colours can really pop. The undercoat of a fox fur pelt is really dense and extremely soft and fox fur coats are therefore a great way to keep yourself warm during the winter months.

Raccoon fur is a type of fur which became popular in the United States. The raccoon is an animal found in the wild in the northern states but, just like a lot of other types of fur, raccoon fur is mostly farmed in special fur ranches. It is really durable as some coats made during the 1920's are still around today. Sheared raccoon is less durable, but, with the right care, it should still be able to last for several decades. Raccoon fur has long strands of fur which are quite soft, but not as soft as fox or mink. Raccoon fur can also be found on a lot of hoods as a fur trim. All in all, raccoon fur is a great all‑rounder for people that want to keep themselves warm during the holiday season.

Lynx fur coats are even more expensive than sable fur coats mainly because the lynx is a very rare animal. A lynx is a type of cat that can be found in parts of North America, Northern Europe and Canada. The amount of lynx fur pelts that are sold every year is limited which also acounts for the high price of the fur coats. A lynx fur coat is recognizable by the subtle black spots that can be found all over the coat. Lynx fur that comes from the belly of the cat is super soft and coats made out of this type of fur are even more expensive. Because the lynx lives in parts of the world where temperatures can reach minus 30 degrees Celsius, the lynx's fur pelts are ideal for keeping you warm. It's long hairs are also great at repelling strong gusts of icy wind. If you like the look of a lynx fur coat, and you have enough money, I'd highly recommend you buy one.