How to Tell if a Fur Coat is Real

If you’ve ever owned a fur coat or are planning to own one, you must have wondered, “How to tell if a fur coat is real or not?” Well, first off, a luxurious real fur coat is quite mesmerizing. Still, you might worry about accidentally buying a fake one.

Faux fur made nowadays look and feel more real than they’ve ever been. This is one reason it’s very complicated to distinguish real fur vs fake fur. It’s true knowing the details of fur can be tricky, and that’s because of countless similar options available.

Having the knowledge on how to identify fur will help you avoid wasting time and, of course, money when you’re looking for fancy wear or just searching through vintage stores. Not to mention, it can save you from feeling disappointed later.

So, in this guide, we’ll walk you through some easy steps to check if your fur coat is genuine or fake.

Let’s get right into it!

Understanding the Basics of Fur Coats

Fur coats have been a staple in fashion for centuries, admired for their luxurious feel and timeless elegance. Whether you’re drawn to the opulence of real fur or faux fur, understanding the basics can help you make an informed decision when purchasing or caring for your fur coat.

Real fur coats are made from the pelts of animals such as mink, fox, or rabbit. These coats are known for their incredible warmth, natural beauty, and durability.

On the other hand, faux fur coats are crafted from synthetic materials designed to mimic the look and feel of real fur. Advances in technology have made faux fur more convincing than ever, offering a cruelty-free alternative that can still provide warmth and style. However, faux fur may not offer the same level of insulation as real fur and can sometimes feel less luxurious to the touch.

By understanding these basics, you can make a more informed decision that aligns with your values and needs, ensuring that your fur coat is a cherished addition to your wardrobe.

How to Tell if a Fur Coat is Real or Not

There’re multiple methods to help you recognize if a fur coat is real or fake when you want to find out if it’s genuine or just a clever imitation.

It is important to distinguish between real and fake fur to ensure you are making an informed purchase.

You can use the below techniques to distinguish real fur from fake:

Different Techniques to Identify Real Fur Coat

The Touch Test 

This is the quickest, easiest method! Just feel the fur. With that, you can really notice the difference between real fur vs fake fur.

When you gently touch it, genuine fur will be plush, silky, and smooth. On the other hand, faux fur usually feels scratchy, rough, or almost like a stuffed animal. If your coat doesn’t feel right, it might not be real. However good faux fur may feel, it can still be distinguished from real fur through touch.

Simple, isn’t it?

The Look Test 

The look matters here! Because the way the favorite fur coat caught your attention, looks can give you a somewhat good idea about whether it’s a real fur coat.

Check the base of the fur when you examine the coat. To answer, “How to tell if fur coat is real?” Look at how the fur is made. The real fur will have uneven length, layers of hair and a bit of curl to it. 

On the contrary, fake fur kinda looks flat because they usually have hair of the same length and color. Moreover, if you gently part the hairs, you might see the surface with a synthetic fabric, not a leather-like material.

Strange, but this is one of the hands-on methods to find out how to identify fur. Take a safety pin and pierce it through the base of the fur. If the pin goes through easily, it means you’re looking at faux fur, as it’s probably backed by synthetic material.

If the pin has a hard time going through or feels like it’s hitting something solid, you’re probably dealing with genuine fur, where the fur remains attached to a leather lining.

The Burn Test: How Burnt Real Fur Smells

Sounds a bit extreme, right? But hear us out; the burn test is a classic way to find out what your coat is made of. Pull out a few hairs from a hidden spot on the coat deliberately and fire them in a safe place.

Real fur will burn slowly and emit a smell akin to burnt hair. Burnt real fur smells similar to burnt human hair, providing a distinctive clue. In comparison, fake fur smells like burning plastic and will catch fire right away, leaving hard bits behind.

Note: Although this is the reliable method to check if the fur is real but, be careful.

The Cut Test 

Don’t worry about making a small cut, as this helps as well in finding out if the fur is real. Make a tiny cut in a hidden spot and look at the inside of the fur. 

Real fur will feel soft, like animal skin, while fake fur will show a synthetic, woven material with a very different feel.

The Weight 

Considering the weight is also very crucial when checking a fur coat. Genuine fur is usually heavier than faux because of having naturally layered and dense hair. The extra weight helps keep you warm and shows quality. If a coat feels really light, it probably is made from a synthetic substance.

The Tips of Hair

This is yet another simple technique to identify if a fur coat is real, which is by looking at the tips of the hairs. Real fur hairs naturally end at a point. However, faux often has blunt ends because of how it’s made. 

Keep in mind this method can be less reliable, specially with premium fake fur that mimics the real fur quite well. Yet using this method along with the others can give you a better idea of how to tell real fur from fake.

To Sum It Up

It can seem a little tough at first to figure out the difference between real and faux fur, but with the above techniques, you can confidently step up.

When going through various options or types of furs, just remember that a genuine fur coat provides a softness, warmth, and richness that fake ones just can’t match. 

Knowing how to tell real fur from fake is super helpful when you get your fur coat from RFS. These practical techniques, along with using your senses, will assist you in investing in something that not only looks great but also has quality and genuineness.

Finally, your concept of luxurious fur is now clear, so go ahead and use the above simple ways confidently to identify fur.

That’s it!