St. Petersburg
Shopping in St. Petersburg
Fur: Fetish or Ferocious?
Ironic, isn’t it, that the method used by primordial cave men to keep warm is in our times the symbol of a luxurious, elegant lifestyle? Fur is considered the most essential feature of Russian sophistication and style. It is one of the few aspects of modern Russian fashion which has not been borrowed or inherited from the West. In fact, ‘Western’ fashion seems to be embracing this distinctive Russian trend with increasing vigour. In much of Europe and America, the politics of the fur industry are such that some are afraid to walk down the street donning a fur coat or hat in case a nearby discerning animal rights activist throws blood-red paint on their prized garment. Such protesters maintain that the killing of animals for the superficial purpose of fashion is immoral and cruel. The arguments hold less water in the deep, dark winters of Russia, where many wear fur for the simple reason that it is the warmest thing to be wrapped in. Nevertheless, the fur industry here is not without its share of challenges: only in September 2006, protestors in the Luzhsky district set 30,000 minks free from a fur farm. Foreigners who long to wear fur will find few obstacles in Russia, apart from a price tag, of course. The wearing of fur is rooted in everyday life and wearing it is considered by most as normal and sensible. Even during Soviet times when this notoriously luxurious item was considered bourgeois and indulgent, preventing its manufacture and trying to stop Russians snuggling up in it proved difficult. Instead, a very Soviet gesture was made: fur production was merely centralized. Nowadays, Russia is the best place to a buy a fur should you so desire. They simply know what they are doing. It has, after all, been one of the country’s major exports since the early Middle Ages. Despite the slight slump in the fur industry in the 1990s, perhaps caused by the influence of animal rights groups, the last five years have seen high profile (Western) designers give resounding signals of approval to ever-controversial fur. Men’s fashion cannot even escape the fur craze. Furthermore, the contemporary choice of materials and scope of imagination is huge. In fact, should a fur coat be a little expensive, or a little too scary for a ‘fur-virgin’, Russian designers are frequently including trimmings of fur on shoes, belts, handbags and even bikinis (the mind boggles.) So, if your fetish be fur, you’re in the right place. Check out our guide to buying fur for more details. The quality allegedly depends upon the dressing and processing of the fur, so be sure to enquire into this at the store. The ‘care’ of fur is a matter not to be scoffed at: experts advise not only logical tips such as avoiding spraying perfume on the fur and drying it at room temperature, but also the bizarre notion of sending your fur on ‘holiday vacation’ to a fur refrigerator. If real animal fur still seems too cruel, too indulgent, or just a little out of budget, do not fear. Surprisingly enough, the wearing of fur is not actually a prerequisite of coming to Russia (not an official one, anyway) and of course, shops sell plenty of warm, winter coats without even a hint of fur. So you can stay warm and still happily look the little squirrels in the eye.
