With the approach of winter, we are increasingly thinking about what will warm us in cold weather. Fashion trends change, new materials appear, but clothes made of natural fur will forever remain a favorite of the winter season. But how to choose from all this variety? After all, there are a lot of types of fur, as well as producing countries, but I want the thing to be of high quality and please the fashionista for a long time. The answer will be one: the Scandinavian mink. And this is due to a number of reasons, which will be discussed later.
Most popular fur
Scandinavian mink fur coat holds the leading position all over the world. It accounts for 80% of fur sales. The main reason for this is the impeccable quality of the fur. A wide variety of pile lengths and a wide range of colors also play an important role. The noble luster and luxurious appearance have led to the fact that the Scandinavian mink has become known as the "black diamond".
World Fur Trade Center
Finland is the only country in the world where fur production is taught in high school. And it is not surprising that not far from Helsinki,in the city of Vantaa, the largest fur auctions are held - Saga Furs Oyj. Scandinavian mink, which ranges from $40 to $60 per pelt, is the main bidding item. The main buyers are Russia, China, Greece and Turkey. All fur produced in the Scandinavian countries goes through 12 stages of processing. Its quality is monitored at the state level at all stages - from cultivation to sale. So a Scandinavian mink coat is not in vain considered a product of the highest standard.
Unique Breeds
Don't think that mink has only one look and shade. The Finnish mink is distinguished by a wide variety of tones, because it was from there that the types of fur came that have no analogues in the world. The Scandinavian mink of a rare variety, which everyone is accustomed to calling “polar” mink, is in great demand among fashionistas. Its long and thick fur, reminiscent of sable, is especially prized by ladies from high society.
No less popular are "crosses" - minks with a pronounced stripe, located along and across the ridge, resembling a cross. The uniqueness of this fur is that it does not lose the stripe when dyed. There are several types of such mink:
- Sapphire Cross - the stripe has a bluish-gray tint.
- Silver Cross - bright gray stripe.
- Pastel Cross - dark brown stripe along and across the ridge.
Products made from such fur are quite expensive, because production volumes are limited. Equally valued is the Scandinavian mink called Finnjaguar,which means "Finnish jaguar" in translation. The animal has a white color with clear black spots.
Most common species
Brown mink is the backbone of the Scandinavian fur industry. At the same time, the color palette is quite wide: from an almost black tint to a fawn color. Inexpensive types of brown fur are Scanbrown, in shades of which there is a purple tint, and the lighter Scanglow. Pastel is a little more expensive, but the most expensive and appreciated is Mahogany. Less common is the gray mink, which can be of the following varieties:
- regular gray - Sapphire;
- dark shade with pale undercoat - Blue Iris;
- light brown tint - Silverblue;
- grey-beige mink - Pearl;
- pale gray color – Violet;
- natural white color - White.
More attention should be paid to the rare Scandinavian mink called Scanblack, whose black color is valued more than the usual brown. At the same time, the average length of hair and dense voluminous underfur of this breed make products from such fur favorites of recent seasons.
Length and quality of undercoat
Scandinavian mink comes in many varieties and can be not only short-haired or long-haired. There are also many transitional species, differing in the density of the undercoat and the length of the outer hair. They appeared thanks to the long and hard work of breeders. Due to greater endurance and resistance tohumidity, in the conditions of our winters, the Scandinavian mink will be the most practical option. How to distinguish it from the same American? First of all, pay attention to the fur. It should be equal, medium length. At the same time, the Finnish mink has a higher guard hair, and the Danish mink has a lower pile.
Often on sale you can find products made of sheared or decoratively plucked fur. Try to avoid such purchases, because only low-grade and even sick mink is subjected to such processing. At the same time, the wearing time of the product is significantly reduced. You should not believe the seller that it is unfashionable to take unshorn mink now. All these tricks are created only to hide the defects of the skin. The natural look is what Scandinavian mink is valued for.
How to distinguish a fake?
Such popularity could not fail to interest all kinds of scammers and dishonest businessmen. So before you buy a Scandinavian mink, you should take a closer look at the purchase. Of course, it is best to go to a company store, because the percentage of fakes there is much less than in a regular boutique. Before purchasing, it is worth carrying out a few simple manipulations that will tell you a lot about the quality of the fur. First of all, run your palm against the wool - a high-quality mink returns to its original position within a few seconds. If this did not happen, and the fur is ruffled or broken, then they want to sell you not a mink, but a product made from cheaper raw materials.
Staringattention to the cover of the product can save you from buying a fake. Take a closer look at the length of the villi, they should be exactly the same. If the hairs differ in length, then under the guise of a Scandinavian mink, they want to sell you a marmot. Also feel the fur - it shouldn't be spiky.
But even if you know how to distinguish a marmot skin from a mink, this does not guarantee the purchase of a quality product. After all, a fur coat can be handicraft. You can distinguish a quality product if you pinch or shake the fur a little. The product of the highest standard will not lose a single hair. It is also worth looking at the texture of the fur. High-quality mink has no bald spots, oily sheen, and the villi do not stick together.
Don't forget to look under the lining, because sometimes unpleasant surprises hide there. Properly dressed Scandinavian mink skin should not be white, and even more so yellow. The skin color should be even, and the texture itself should not have holes or any damage. It is also important to know how the parts of the product are connected. Neat and even seams speak of the quality of the product. While the parts glued together may indicate that you have a product in front of you that costs an order of magnitude cheaper.
Scandinavian mink. Reviews
The huge annual sales volume speaks for itself. Two out of three fur coats and coats in the world are made from this fur. And there are a number of reasons due to which the Scandinavian mink occupies a leading position in the world. Customer reviews speak of the following benefits:
- moisture resistance of fur;
- wear resistant;
- quality under tight control;
- huge selection of colors and shades;
- relatively low cost of goods.
Finally, I would like to say: do not save too much on buying a fur coat. After all, this product is not bought for one season. So it's better to take a more expensive model that will please for more than one year than to buy a fake from the tray and regret this purchase for a long time.