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Where to go for winter coats

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Animal lovers beware - in Russia, fur is always in, which is great if you’ve always wanted to wear a mink coat in -30 degrees but have been terrified of animal rights activists getting on your case. But for better or worse, the Russian fur trade has been a real money-spinner since the middle-ages. Back then Russian trappers out in the forests would get martens, beavers, wolf, fox and hare fur. Typically it was then traded in Europe by Polish or Ukrainian fur merchants. By the end of the nineteenth century however, North America had begun to muscle in on the fur trade. With their pristine lands full of beautiful animal furs, the Russian fur trade began to lose its exclusivity, as many of the popular Siberian animals had already been over-hunted.

During the Soviet times, new techniques and the Communist desire for modern manufacturing methods and mass production, saw the fur trade turn to farms. Soviet fur farms bred mainly mink and sable and by the time of the Soviet collapse there were 250 fur farms, mostly based in Russia, which produced fur for export in Eastern Europe and for the domestic market. Following the break-up of the Soviet system, the fur trade went into serious decline, with only an estimated 50 farms producing furs, of what was by then deemed to be an inferior product. Hunters in the east however have now got out their traps and guns again, relishing the chance to be freed from collective farming styles and get back to the call of the wild. The sable population is now estimated to be back up to 1.1 million, with only 25% of this hunted in order to retain genetic diversity. Hunters then sell their furs to traders who sell it at auctions in St. Petersburg, where fashion houses from across the world arrive to get their hands on some luxury.

Caring for your fur:
-    Wear it as often as possible during the winter – winter sun and wind improves the appearance.
-    Hang it up with free space around it in order for it to breathe. Keep it in a dry place and when wet dry it out only at room temperature. Furs don’t like heat or humidity.
-    Ladies, don’t put a lot of perfume on your fur, it damages it. Also try to avoid wearing shoulder bags as it rubs the fur and makes it lose its shine.
-    During the summer keep it stored in a dark, cool, dry place and preferably wrapped in special cloth. Don’t forget to take it out every now and then for a little air.