Real Fur - A Luxury Item That Also Delivers Unparalleled Warmth

Ah, the warm, soft luxury of real fur. There's a reason your fur throw or blanket feels so soft and warm. Fur's purpose over the many years has been to keep mammals, including humans toasty and dry with layers of insulating hairs. Man-made products used to make synthetic or imitation fur production, tend not to deliver the same coziness.

As a result of long adaptation to severe climates, some animals that live in those regions have developed fur coats that can keep them warm through the most severe winters. As an example, caribou fur is hollow and very thick, so warm air is trapped both inside the individual hairs as well as amongst them. Hollow or not, all animal fur also permits our skin to breathe, thus producing less chilling perspiration. The real warmth from fur is derived from the combination of the thickness of the pelt, the density of the undercoat, and the insulation provided by the top coat which keeps the undercoat free of moisture.

Residents of very cold climes such as Alaska or the Arctic know that ice will not thaw and then refreeze on real fur the way it does on synthetics. Since most of us will not dwell in the very extreme environments, this may not seem immediately applicable, but for those who reside in those locations, the wildlife that rely on that property for their capacity to withstand the cold, and visitors of those areas, this is very significant. For the rest of us, it's definitely more convenient to not have to deal with icing when wearing a fur hat, vest or coat in snowy conditions.

Real fur is considered by many to be more environmentally responsible than the alternative. Faux fur is made of fibers consisting of artificial chemical substances, such as nylon or polyester, which are petroleum-based. It has been documented that manufacturing only three fake fur jackets requires one gallon of oil! What's more, synthetic fur products are not biodegradable, sustainable or recyclable. Similar to plastic grocery bags, once they're discarded, they will just remain buried in landfills without breaking down, and they have a much shorter shelf life, so the quantities that may ultimately end up in landfills is significant.

In contrast, an opulent fur throw or classic fur coat is more like a family heirloom. If properly cared for, it is something beautiful that can be passed down through the generations. And when its life as a garment is at an end, it can be recycled into special pillows or returned to the the planet in a continual cycle of planet renewal.

The knowledgeable fur consumer knows that there are two ways to distinguish real from fake:

• Check the backing: the real thing will appear like smooth suede leather and is sewn together in strips or sections, like a patchwork quilt. Synthetic fur backing presents a uniform, ribbed appearance.

• Do the "burn test": Clip off some fibers and burn them. Synthetics light easily and burn rapidly. The result is a lump of burnt plastic-smelling stuff. It is more difficult to burn fur, which crinkles into a fine ash substance that smells like burnt human hair.

For those investing in fur, it's smart to be conscientious when shopping. Low cost rarely indicates best quality, and this is certainly true for furs originating in Asia. As an example, in China, clothing marked Asian Jackal or Asiatic Raccoon are probably made of dog fur.

If you've decided to opt for real fur, seek out an honest furrier, read your labels and ask questions about the dealer's sources. Then…enjoy!