Fur Terminology

Every fur represents weeks of specialized labour and fine hand craftsmanship. Furriers have specialized skills which often have been handed down from generation to generation. The creation of each fur requires meticulous workmanship. The following terms describe some of the elements involved:

Brightener added

A process which enhances the colour of a fur.

Dyeing

Process of applying dye to create a new colour. Dyeing is sometimes also used to correct any imperfections and to improve uniformity. Sometimes the pelt is leached white before colour is added. Guard Hair Long, lustrous outer hair that protects the underfur.

Knitted Fur

A new technique that produces a soft, comfortable, fur-in/fur-out look and feel.

Leathering

Insertion of ribbon, cloth or leather strips along with fur strips. May be done for fashion or to lighten the weight of the fur.

Letting Out

Cutting the pelt into diagonal strips and resewing it to make the pelt longer and narrower. Sometimes referred to as dropping out. The effect is supple and smooth flowing.

Mutation

Natural furs of special colours that are produced by selective breeding.

Plucking

To emphasize the velvet underhair of the fur. All guard hairs are plucked before shearing.

Shearing

Cutting the fur to a short, uniform pile.

Shearling

Natural lamb pelts with the leather side often sueded and worn on the outside.

Skin-on-Skin

Rectangular pelts are sewn together to create a box effect as an alternative to the letting out process.

Tip-Dyeing

Sometimes called blending. Dye is applied only to the tips of guard hairs to produce more colour uniformity.

Underfur

The underhair covered by guard hairs. This is the layer of the fur that acts as insulation to provide warmth.