How to Identify Real Fur

Fake fur tends to look perfect, while real fur has imperfections.

Relying on the label or price is not the most reliable method to identify real fur. Manufacturers of fake fur go to great lengths to make items indistinguishable from real fur and the production alone may raise the price of a fake fur piece into the range of a real fur item. If the fake fur was produced by an unethical manufacturer, the price may be artificially inflated to match a real fur piece and a clothing label with false information may be used. There are ways to tell the difference between fake and real fur, no matter how high the quality of the fake fur piece.

Things You'll Need

• Magnifying glass
• Straight Pin
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Lighter

Instructions

1. Lay the fur item out on a flat surface with the fur side up. Make sure there is a good light source.

2. Examine any pattern that is contained in the fur such as spots or markings. Fake fur tends to have a perfect appearance, with the pattern repeating evenly and all the markings having an even level of coloration. Real fur has an uneven pattern and its markings vary in intensity of coloration and width.

3. Separate the fur by hand so you can see the base where the fur is attached. Real fur has an extra layer of very fine almost moss-like fur at the base and has stitched seams that can only be found where pieces of fur have been attached to each other. Fake fur shows stitching or a seam where the rows of "hair" have been put together to create the coat, but it lacks the fine, mossy layer at the base.

4. Use a magnifying glass to examine the shape of an individual hair follicle of the fur. Real fur will not have a consistent color from base to tip, but will show variation. Real fur also tapers from the base to a point at the tip. Fake fur is even in color and is one width, generally with a flat tip.

5. Pierce the base of a hair follicle with a straight pin. If the pin inserts easily into the base it is fake fur. If it's difficult to pierce the base, the fur is real.

6. Snip a small piece of fur from the jacket with a pair of scissors. Hold a few of the hairs in a tweezer and wave the flame from a lighter back and forth near the hairs. Fake fur, which tends to be made of plastic or other manmade fibers, will quickly burn and curl and give off a chemical odor.

Tips & Warnings

• Perform the burn test only on fur items owned and not ones that are being considered for purchase to avoid liability for any damage to the item.

• Perform the burn test away from the clothing item to decrease the risk of it catching on fire.

References

• Fur Closes: How to Identify the Natural Fur and Artificial Fur
• The Humane Society of the United States: Field Guide on Real vs. Fake Fur

Resources

• FurCare: How to Care for Your Fur