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 millennia has been to keep mammals, including humans warm and dry with layers of insulating hairs. Man-made materials used in faux or fake fur manufacturing, do not provide the same coziness.

Through long adaptation to extreme 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 allows 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 dry.

Inhabitants of very cold climes such as Alaska or the Arctic know that ice will not melt and then refreeze on real fur the way it does on synthetics. Since most of us do not live in the very extreme climates, this may not seem immediately relevant, but for those who reside in those regions, the animals that rely on that property for their ability to withstand the cold, and visitors of those areas, this is very important. 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 synthetic chemical substances, such as nylon or polyester, which are petroleum-based. It has been reported that manufacturing only three fake fur jackets requires one gallon of oil! In addition, synthetic fur products are not biodegradable, renewable or recyclable. Much like 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 could ultimately end up in landfills is substantial.

On the other hand, a luxurious fur throw or vintage 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 pillows or returned to the earth in a continual cycle of planet renewal.

The well informed fur shopper knows that there are two ways to distinguish real from fake:

• Check the backing: the real thing will resemble 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 purchasing fur, it pays to be diligent when shopping. Low cost rarely indicates best quality, and this is definitely true for furs originating in Asia. As an example, in China, garments labeled Asian Jackal or Asiatic Raccoon are probably made of dog fur.

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

For high quality, real fur throws author Stephen Daniels highly recommends the high quality products produced by Trailside Traditions. The owner has been in this business for more than 20 years, and takes pride in the quality of the fur he uses, and gets from his eco-responsible suppliers.