- The Biblical book of Genesis mentions the use of fur coverings. But, according to the Fur Information Council of America, early American colonists traveled across the Rocky Mountains to find fur for the coats of nobleman and aristocrats. While famous fur traders Lewis & Clark created settlements on their journey to find fur pelts in America, the buying, selling, harvesting and trading of fur pelts has its roots in Russia, Canada, South America, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Poland and Asia.
- Fur coats are made out of a variety of animal skins including beaver, chinchilla, coyote, ermine, fox, fisher, lamb, lynx, marten, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, sable and tanuki. Fur coats are manufactured from both wild-caught and farm-raised animals.
- Mink coats are characterized by their soft underfur and dense hair. This durable fur is often farm-raised and is lightweight and soft to the touch. Available in a variety of colors, male mink pelts are generally heavier and larger than female mink pelts
- Russian sable is the most expensive type of fur coat. In comparison to Canadian and America sable, Russian sable fur is rare and found in limited quantities. Sable coats have a dense wool base, covered with long guard hairs. Sable coats are typically brown with a speckling of silver hair dispersed throughout the coat, giving the fur a silver cast.
- Rabbit is one of the least expensive types of fur coats. It is used in fur coats for children due to its variety of natural colors and soft texture. Rabbit is not very durable and has the tendency to shed its hairs after frequent wearings.
- Similar in popularity to mink, fox fur coats are sold in a large array of vibrant natural colors. From steel gray to the whitest white fox fur, this farm-raised fur is widely available in North America. Fox fur has a soft and thick underfur with long hairs
- Chinchillas are raised in South America. This multicolored fur, made famous by Disney's cartoon villain Cruella De Ville, is comprised of very soft and silky pelts. The guard hairs of a chinchilla are slate blue, and the underfur is thick in its texture.
