Friday, January 7, 2011

Here's a quick "cheat sheet" to help you become an expert "fur or faux" detective:

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1) The Feel Test

Feel the difference by rolling the hairs between the finger and thumb.




Genuine Fur: Feels smooth and soft, easily rolls between the fingers.


Fake Fur: Feels coarse.


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2) The Look Test


Blow on the hairs so that they divide, and look at the base.



Genuine Fur: Often made up of several layers of thin, almost curly hairs that form a dense under-wool through which the longer hairs stick out. The hairs remain attached to the leather (skin).



Fake Fur: Simpler in structure, individual hairs are often the same length and are even in color.


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3) The Pin Test

Drive a pin through the base where the fur is attached.



Genuine Fur: The leather resists; pin is hard to push through.



Fake Fur: Pin goes easily through the base.


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4) The Burn Test (not recommended)

Carefully pull a few hairs from the fur and hold them to a flame.



Genuine Fur: Singes and smells like human hair.



Fake Fur: Melts and smells like burnt plastic and forms small plastic balls at the ends that feel hard between the finger and thumb.


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Adapted from the Fur Free Alliance.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/articles.php?p=453&more=1




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However, from the other point of view about fur from the British Fur Trade site.
http://www.britishfur.co.uk/index.php
Read it for yourself and make your own judgement^^

;;