If you own a company that sells or manufactures fur clothing, then you’ll want to make sure that your staff has adequate training for the industry. Fur apparel education and training involves knowing the different types of fur, pricing, cuts and more.

A fur apparel supplier will need to know what type of fur coats are popular, how they are made and what state and federal regulations apply. For example, most states have laws that require fur jackets and other pieces of clothing have accurate labels that state how much real fur is used.

1. Learn about the history of fur apparel. Research how the industry started as well as laws and regulations that govern a fur apparel manufacturer.

2. Consider fur fashion training options. If you are in a sales oriented business, you’ll need to know about fur clothing trends.

3. Stay abreast of fur financial trends and statistics. Read articles or join associations that can help you stay informed about the current fiscal climate in the fur clothing industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get acquainted with the history of fur clothing

Customers want to buy from businesses that know what they are talking about. Companies need to look to sites that can provide them with the history of fur as well as fur hat and coat types and styles.

I recommend: The Fur Information Council of America has numerous resources for those looking for more about fur. Links include historical information, types of furs, classic fur styles as well as a comprehensive resources page. For information on handling, certified traps, transporting and other topics related to fur, you can go to the Fur Harvesters website.

Find out the laws that govern a fur apparel manufacturer

If you are a producer of furs, you must abide by federal guidelines that are meant to protect the welfare of animals. Government bodies also determine which type of animals can be used in fur production as well as a cap on the number produced annually.

I recommend: The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service monitors members of the fur industry to ensure that they are abiding by their animal welfare regulations. The International Fur Trade Federation covers regulations both nationally and internationally.

Determine the best sites to learn about the fur apparel fiscal outlook

A part of training and education will involve always updating members of your staff on how the fur industry is faring. Financial status will often determine if you will offer services to your customers, like fur coat financing.

I recommend: On the Fur Commission website, you can find a lot of helpful information for a fur apparel supplier. Industry statistics provided include retail sales, mink coat production numbers, market bulletins, auction values and more. You can also join a fur association to get more involved with issues that affect the mink clothing industry. If you are a mink producer in the United States or Canada, you can apply for membership to the American Legend.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to look into conservation issues that affect fur and mink clothing suppliers before embarking on a new fur business venture.

Selling fur clothing is kind of like selling illicit drugs, only much prettier and legal.

You must avoid the shady dealings of the black market. In addition, you must purchase your furry apparel with caution and efficiency because it must be pure and real, along with being delivered as the exact amount purchased.

To make sure you get your money's worth, follow these rules:

1. Know what makes a good fur coat. For a mink coat, look for bald spots, crooked seams, differing grains and bad lining-placement.

2. Research the market prices every time you make a purchase.

3. Know the differences between new, vintage and just plain old.

4. Be able to tell the difference among animals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn to be a fur clothing expert

Being a fur apparel supplier is closer to being a diamond seller than a fashion storeowner. One must be able to tell the difference between not only fake fur and real fur, but a rabbit fur coat trying to pass as chinchilla, or a raccoon fur hat trying to pass as rabbit.

I recommend: Read what the Fur Information Council of America (FICA) has to say about different kinds of furs. Look at and participate in message boards and discussion forums about fur and furriers, like the one on the Ohio State Trappers Association (OSTA) website. Read about fur types, caring for your fur clothing and more from Sir Charles Exclusive Furriers.

Look around when buying fur fashion

It's always better to buy fur in person in order to assure its quality. If you must buy online, make sure you know as much about the furriers as possible, including their warranty services.

I recommend: Look for a quality fur apparel manufacturer nearby. Check out Sharnelle in New York (especially for mink clothing), Snowflake in Canada, Glacier Wear in Montana (especially for fur hats), and Gabriella's Fur Den in Pennsylvania.

Make your mark with fur fashion

Whether you have an online store or a boutique, put a little of youself in your image as a fur apparel supplier. Do you only work with chinchilla, mink, rabbit and sable? On the other hand, do you have less pricey furs, like possum, skunk and beaver? Advertise as luxury-pieces only or family furs at family prices. Do you only sell used furs, fake furs, or re-worked fur clothing? Advertise as socially responsible. Do you sell fur accessories? What about other apparel such as a fur trim coat, a fur collar coat or fur-less items? Advertise as luxury clothing and fur.

I recommend: Fur & Luxury Center and JR Luxury have good website layouts, the former including videos of models wearing fur coats for women, fur jackets and other fur apparel. If you're in New York, Ritz Furs buys and sells used furs, and its website has easy steps for taking care of them. Furs by Chrys also offers this feature, plus shipping, and some new items.

Stay on fur fashion guard

When dealing with something as controversial as fur, be ready for some backlash. Make sure you only work with humane fur suppliers and fur manufacturers, and you are secure in your stance when it comes to new and used fur apparel.

I recommend: The Fur Commission USA (FCUSA) offers educational resources and videos on smart, safe real fur use. The British Fur Trade Association (BFTA) offers the latest news in fur trade and fur fashions. The Fur Council of Canada has all you need to know about the Fur is Green project.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The location of your store should not be in a very liberal area. Your customers shouldn't be concerned with the possibility of red paint splashed on them while walking out.
• •  Give your customer luxury: lots of mirrors, designer shoes, marble floors, superior customer service and solutions for storing and caring for fur clothing. Alternatively, if this isn't what your store is going for, make the fur section outdoorsy: cedar smell, log cabin interior, maybe even a fireplace.
• •  A fur is expensive, but is usually not a good investment (the worth deteriorates over time). Make sure you carry classic makes of furry apparel, so your customers do not worry about it going out of style too soon.

To be in the fur apparel industry, it is absolutely essential that you know the definition of all the types of fur available to buy and sell. For example, learn what mink, chinchilla, sable and rabbit fur are, where they come from, what they look like and how expensive they are. You should also know and be able to recognize fake fur and restyled fur. These terms will help you carry good products and accurately inform your customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Mink

Mink is a member of the weasel family and has a type of fur with glossy long and short hair. Its colors range in various browns with some white patches.

I recommend: Fur Commission USA provides an in-depth look at mink fur.

Chinchilla

Chinchilla fur is a very expensive and beautiful fur. It comes from a rodent from Bolivia, Peru and Chile. It has long, thick and soft hair that ranges in colors from dark blue to blue gray.

I recommend: Visit Canchilla Associates for a detailed description of chinchilla fur and the animals themselves.

Sable

Sable fur is silky, lightweight, a brown and silver color, and very rare, making it very expensive. The more silver it has in it, the more expensive.

I recommend: The Fur Information Council of America has an excellent dictionary that explains the different types of furs.

Rabbit

Rabbit is a medium length with a variety of colors found in nature. This fur has an affordable price, but it is not very durable.

I recommend: Sir Charles Furriers provides an explanation and description of rabbit fur.

Fake fur

Known as fake fur or faux fur, this material is made to imitate animal fur. Usually it is made out of polymeric fibers that can be dyed and cut to simulate an animal's fur. In the fur industry it is important to know how to tell the difference between fake fur and real fur.

I recommend: Treehugger discusses fake fur and how to identify it. It also provides links to several related articles and a downloadable guide to discerning fake fur from real fur.

Restyled fur

Restyled fur, also known as reworked fur is the process in which a fur apparel product is redone to make it into a new style or different product entirely.

I recommend: Look at FBLG. It illustrates some examples of how fur can be restyled.