Types of Mink Furs
There was a time when only people with high social or economic status were privileged enough to wear mink furs. Nowadays, because of an increase in availability and affordability, many people can enjoy the luxury and beauty that once belonged to a select few. The variety of colors and styles of a mink fur make it appealing to nearly any age and status.
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Source of the Fur
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Furriers traditionally used mink found in the wild to make mink furs. You can still purchase items made of wild mink fur but they are difficult to find. To keep up with demand, the majority mink furs originate from from mink raised on farms in North America and Europe. Some buyers prefer items made of American mink furs because they tend to have fuller, thicker coats than European ones. But European mink furs often feature a high quality craftsmanship in design. Female mink are smaller than males, so a mink fur constructed of female mink may contain more pelts, but have a softer, silkier feel than those of the male mink fur. Furriers use the firmer male mink furs for designs that feature a sheared design.
Color of the Fur
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Natural mink ranges in color from chocolate brown to dark brown that appears almost black. Farmers crossbreed mink to get desired colors and tones. Therefore, furs made from farm raised mink feature colors not found in the wild. Furriers refer to mink bred for their natural color as “standard mink”; those bred for color are referred to as “color type." The colored, farmed mink range from a silver blue or platinum color to black. “Lavender” mink has a light lilac tint over a lighter colored under fur. Furriers refer to gray blue colored minks as sapphire, violet, or blue iris depending on the depth of color. Lighter colored mutations include white, pearl, and gray beige. In the 1960s a white mink with black spots that has come to be known as “Jaguar mink” was bred on a mink farm in Finland. Dyed mink furs do appear on the market, but are usually of lower quality.
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Style of the Fur
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Furriers use different kinds of mink furs to create full-length coats, jackets, shawls, stoles, hats, scarves, earmuff, headbands, and the lining and trim of gloves. Younger wearers of mink tend to choose full mink fur jackets or those that are trimmed in mink. Designers fashion sheared mink into ponchos and shawls for a contemporary, casual look. Patterned mink furs in herringbone or chevron design make luxurious full-length coats and shorter jackets. Burnout patterns create mink furs that look like velvet.
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References
- Photo Credit The woman in fur coat poses in the forest background image by Arkady Chubykin from Fotolia.com
