Look through any fashion magazine from last fall or winter, and it is easy to see that fur is coming back in a big way. Runways, red carpets, and high society events from all over the world were filled with fur last year, and the trend is likely to continue well into next winter.
Fur is still a hotly debated topic for obvious reasons, and many people refuse to wear real fur. However, many of these people still want to jump onto the recent fur trend, and many of them are happy to buy synthetic faux fur. On the other hand, some people shell out thousands for fur coats and garments and would be furious to find that they paid for a faux fur item.
This is usually not a problem, as the fabrics of a garment can usually be identified simply by reading the label. However, this is not always so easy with vintage clothing that was made before printed labels were standard. There are also those who intentionally deceive consumers, passing faux fur off as real and vice-versa. Either way, no one likes to spend good money on something, only to find out that it is not what they believed they were buying.
Although the best way to identify real or faux fur is by taking it to a professional, there are some simple techniques that anyone can use to tell some simple differences. None of these are guaranteed to be totally accurate or fool-proof, but this guide is designed to help you differentiate between real and faux fur easily and for free.
Feel
It is obviously not an exact science, but you can often tell the difference simply by feeling the garment.
“Most real furs will feel ultra-soft to the touch and fall in a sleek, smooth line when passing your fingers through it,” says one fur expert from Evansfursandleathers.com, “Rubbing real fur should feel like petting a cat or other animal.”
On the other hand, faux fur often feels rougher and coarser. It has a synthetic feel that is similar to petting a stuffed animal. Most faux fur will often feel sticky in humid weather or when it is moist.
Backing
One common difference between real fur and faux fur is the backing material. Faux fur will usually be sewn onto stretch/weave fabric, whereas animal fur will have a tough leather lining. Push the hairs aside or make a small incision to identify the backing material.
If you cannot tell the backing material by looking, another trick involves pushing a pin through the garment. If the pin slides through easily, it is likely a synthetic fabric. Real fur items will be more difficult to push through, since you will be pushing the pin through a leather backing.
Burn Trick
Another technique involves burning some of the material. Don’t worry– you only need to pull a few strands of the hair free from the garment, and these should be enough to help you identify it.
Cut just a few strands from the garment and lay them onto a fireproof surface. Light the hairs with a match or lighter and let them burn, paying attention to the smell and how easily the strands burn. Real fur will singe relatively easily and give off a smell similar to burnt hair, whereas most synthetic furs will look and smell more like melted plastic.
Still Not Sure?
If you try these techniques and are still uncertain, you will need to take the item to a furrier or other expert. Having the garment inspected by a professional is the only way to know for sure, so you may be better off doing this to begin with. However, the few tricks listed above should give you an idea of the material and may save you the trouble.