Home \ Shop

Mink

European mink
European mink - one of the two species of mammals of the family Mustelidae, common in Europe and in south-western Siberia. The shape, size and number of teeth in mink are almost the same as that of its close relative - a ferret. But she has significant differences, which are related to the way of life that leads the animal.
Like all animals, spending most of their time near the water, mink head slightly flattened and clearly separated from the neck. It is incomplete swimming membrane between the toes, which help to burrow move in water and developed a much stronger than that of a ferret. In addition, the sides of the fingers on the growing fringe of thick and coarse hair. This mink can easily move through the viscous ground. The length of the body of the European mink is 40 cm, tail - 16 cm, which is slightly less than that of the US. In mink is relatively short, smooth and shiny coat that fits snugly to the body of the animal. At the heart of it - a very thick undercoat, over which rises a rough beard. In nature, this animal has dark brown fur with a slightly grayish undercoat. Moreover, the head, back and tail has a somewhat darker shade, and part of the muzzle (the upper and lower lip) painted white. Features of the structure of fur, which protects the animal from moisture, allowing mink feel great next to the water. Fur is not wet, so in the wild mink are usually found near the forest rivers, wetlands and lakes. They dive and swim well.
The European mink has been the subject of old fur trade, but it is not too expressive fur was considered less valuable than, for example, the fur of a sable or marten. Of mink sewed garments using both winter and summer fur animal.

American mink
American mink - fur animal, which became the ancestor of all adjustable mink in the world. Once, at the end of the XIX century it was brought into Europe, where it is perfectly caught on fur farms. Compared to its European cousin of the American mink larger (approx. 50 cm), has a long, fluffy and beautiful fur. In addition, it has one valuable feature: the American mink gene incorporated a huge number of mutations responsible for fur color. This fact has made the American mink treasure trove for plant breeders. At the end of the XIX century North American farmers have established breeding American mink in captivity. Because just in those years started to arise fashion products mink - a variety of capes, fur coats and accessories, American mink breeding very quickly it became a profitable industry in the United States and Canada.
Today, natural palette of American mink swing ranges from white to black, and includes numerous brown and gray-blue tones. However, the most common color mink - brown and shades, which make up more than half of all color variations of fur. And here is the most expensive type of American mink - BLACKGLAMA ®, has a rich and deep black color is cast brown.
In addition to the external beauty, one of the main advantages of mink - its high practicality. If properly tanned skins and products made of them is stored correctly, the mink fur coat can last 20 or even 30 years. With intensive wear this period is reduced to 14 years, but it is still very high. In mink in wear resistance equivalent to 70% of the reference otter fur. The same percentage of the standard has only sable fur.
The last few years of high and mass fashion industry demonstrates the growing interest in mink fur as a material for the manufacture of garments and fashion accessories. Constantly there are new shades of mink fur fashion designers provide virtually unlimited opportunities for fantasy. White, black, brown and blue mink takes a well-deserved place on the catwalks of Europe, America and Asia. Although, as we have said, based on the industry for mink breeding is the same kind of American, over the years, breeders properties mink became different, depending on the breeding places. Thus arose several types of mink, for example, Scandinavian, Russian, Canadian, etc.

Russian mink
Russian mink - mink variety, bred in Russia on the basis had been brought in 1928 on the territory of wild North American mink. During the years of Russian breeding mink acquired certain differences from its progenitor - a high guard hairs and dense underfur high, which is very important for our climate. This mink fur Russian are not afraid of moisture, and out of the obtained product is very warm, although more shaggy than from other types of mink.
Russian Fur mink shiny, soft and silky to the touch and has a great popularity among manufacturers of fur products. It is widely used in decoration and accessories, as well as in the major products. From sew mink coats, coats, jackets, capes, hats.
Industry mink breeding in the USSR reached its peak in the 70-80-ies of the last century, when the vogue of fur products. In the 90s, the fur farming has gone through a severe crisis, but now the industry is actively restored. Moreover, the highest rates of development it is mink breeding. Virtually all of mink, which are grown in Russia (80%) - this is a standard breed, which has a brown color. At the same shades of brown ranging from dark brown (known as STK - "dark brown Standard") to almost black. Also popular Russian Mink light brown color, which is similar to the color of wild American mink. However, the popularity of a particular tone fur depends largely on the fashion trends. Today, because dark colors are considered to be more popular and more expensive types of brown fur is often obscured. As a result, the difference between shades of brown and black mink unobtrusive.

Scandinavian mink
Scandinavian mink - a kind of American mink, brought in the early twentieth century on the territory of Northern Europe. Thanks to the active work of the Scandinavian breeding mink fur farm has become an important sector of the economy of countries such as Finland and Denmark, and today it is the Scandinavian mink - the most widespread on the planet. Her fur is about 80% of the world market of mink fur. Key features of the Scandinavian fur mink - smooth spine of medium height and thick underfur. However, in this group there are also differences minks. For example, Finnish mink marked SAGA FURS has higher fur, and a variety of Danish brand KOPENHAGEN FURS - lower fur.
The active work of breeders of Finnish mink has led to the fact that today there are so many natural shades of fur in the world. But the most common type - shades that mimic the natural color of the animal - brown with darker back. Among them, the Scandinavian mink color "mahogany" ( "mahogany") is recognized as the benchmark of classic mink fur coat and has a rich dark brown color - a variation of the so-called "wild type" mink. In addition, consumers are very popular such browns as "demi-buff", "nut", "Dark Pastels". Scandinavian mink - the most popular material of Russian furriers because its quality is better than that of the US, suited to the peculiarities of the Russian climate. Besides, the most valuable species of Scandinavian mink with a similar high quality are somewhat cheaper than their American competitors.

Finnish mink
Finnish mink - one of the varieties of Scandinavian mink bred in conditions of Northern Europe. Like all Scandinavian mink fur Finnish animals it is very popular among manufacturers of fur products, as well as among consumers. If today the world say "fur coat", then 9 times out of 10 it meant a fur coat of mink. The highest prevalence of fur on the market today have a variety of colors of wild-type Finnish mink. Among them, the darker are named "skanbraun" ( "scanbrown"), bright colors called "skanglou" ( "scanglow"). Gray-brown, light tone of Finnish mink was named "pastel" ( "pastel").
Another group of mink - a variety of blue-gray tone. Here favorite in popularity, of course, was the mink "sapphire" ( "sapphire"), which has a beautiful blue color, and its mutation "violet" ( "violet"), which has a light color and is found on the market very often. This group belongs to the colors known in Russia, "the silver-blue" ( "silverblue") mink and rare for our country's gray mink "iris" ( "blue iris"). Little stands out fur color "Lavender" ( "lavender"), having a purplish hue and is very light underfur. Sometimes fur auctions are very rare mutation Finnish mink, which was called "polar mink." Its fur has a very high underfur and spine, and therefore, despite the fact that he has a "classic" for a mink brown color with a pronounced ridge, he looks more like a sable than mink.

North American mink
North American mink - breeds that are bred on fur farms in the United States and Canada. The fur of the animal has a sufficiently low spine, which is practically not visible because of dense and high underfur. Therefore, the touch that gives a sense of the natural mink velvet. Occasionally there are also selling the North American mink from the so-called "super-short" hair, which is below the underfur. This mink looks like pinching, though this is her natural fur.
As the number of farmed North American mink is relatively small, and the quality of its fur is very high, this product has a very high reputation and is considered exclusive. Sale North American mink on American auctions, in which it is assigned one of the two quality systems - American (trademark AMERICAN LEGEND® MINK) or Canadian (trademark NAFA® MINK). This is the best black mink shade gets its own name: amerikanskaya- BLACKGLAMA ®, and kanadskaya- BLACK NAFA ®.
Mink skanblek
"Skanblek" - "penny black" - the name of the natural color of black Scandinavian mink, having a very good reputation among manufacturers and consumers of fur products. Like any natural black fur, "skanblek", in fact, has a light brown color. It is especially noticeable when you compare it, for example, with dyed black fur. Thanks to a smooth, clear focus guard hairs, and its short length, "skanblek" is very pleasant to the touch texture. And for its special shine and play in the rays of light that fur is sometimes called "black diamond". In this variety of mink pelts has one significant advantage: they keep their shape, which allows the master to be made of "skanbleka" a variety of products. A web of this fur is obtained even without visible seams, the hair drops and whatever was the difference in color. Fur coat of black Scandinavian minks, tend to have a neat shoulder line and clearly defined neck. In addition, "skanblek" value is still inferior to its main rival - the black mink "blekgama", so this fur products are somewhat more affordable and accessible.
Mink STK
STK - "dark brown standard" - Russian mink natural dark brown color having the greatest popularity in the domestic market of fur. This was the kind of mink sales hit not only because of the fashion for dark tones of mink, but also because of the relatively low prices of pelts. For aesthetic properties mink STK is not inferior to the best examples of Scandinavian and American mink. Her rich brown color resembles the color of dark chocolate, and leaves a feeling of warmth and coziness. Enough long hair and thick underfur makes this fur is very fluffy and shaggy light creates an effect that looks very impressive in the products. In addition, STC, as well as other Russian mink, is highly resistant to moisture. This product out of it very well worn in conditions of the Russian climate.
Mink "Gold"
"Gold" - "Gold" - the tone of mink, which is not natural. It is produced in modern production by bleaching fur. The technology of this type of mink akin to lighten hair in women. And it was darker than the original raw material, the darker the shade of the final "gold". Thus, a palette of a variety of shades from very light brass "white gold", to the copper-colored and slightly greenish bronze. In the fur coloration retained a transition from a light shade to a darker side to the color range, that leaves a sense of "natural" color. Mink "Gold" is made from Scandinavian mink species and has relatively high popularity among fashion designers and buyers. At its owners, it leaves an impression of the "soft gold".

Mahogany Mink "Mahogany" and "mahogany» ( "mahogany") - a classic natural mink color is very dark and rich brown color, quite close to the natural coloring of this animal in nature. "Mahogany" color was created by mating with a black mink mink of other colors to get your fur a dark shade, and even more dark band along the ridge. However, today the market can see the mahogany mink not only "classical" shade, but lighter and even reddish colors. This color is one of the most common as in the US, and among the Scandinavian mink. Thus "mahogany" valued in the market is slightly higher than the other shades of dark brown mink (e.g., the same mink "skanglou"). And that fur coat of mink "mahogany" is considered a classic product. For mink "mahogany" typical very thick guard hairs, which has a small height and inherited from the black mink. In addition, these burrows are very soft, deep underfur, which gives a special quality fur.
Mink "nut"

"nut" - one of the "popular" names of Scandinavian mink natural brown. This fur is almost exactly reproduces the original natural color of mink skins - medium brown with darker ridge. Since the "nut" - a very calm tone fur, it remarkably suited to the ladies of the diversified appearance. Quite often, the master of making the product of mink "nuts" trying to preserve the "game" more light and dark sides of the ridges of the skins. This coat gets interesting iridescent color and emphasizes the harmony of his master.

Mink "skanglou"

"Skanglou" - the name of the Finnish Mink light brown tones. Fur from mink that has a pleasant shade of hot chocolate - more light to the sides and significantly darker to the ridge. "Skanglou" is highly appreciated among the fur producers. About 20% of the mink, which is sold on the Finnish fur auction Finnish Fur Sales - this is "skanglou". To determine the quality "skanglou" mink is very important to pay attention to the color underfur. If it is too light shade of gray, this mink is considered defective and is sold at a lower price.

Mink "sapphire"
   "Sapphire" - blue - one of the most popular colors of mink, which refers to the gray-blue color group. This Scandinavian mink gentle gray-blue hue, which has a distinct linioyu darker ridge. Thanks to this "double" the color of mink "sapphire" is often cross-linked fabric with a clear vertical pattern: alternating light and dark bands.
   "Sapphire" - is the choice of those ladies who want to create an image of radiant, cold beauty. Mink "Sapphire" is considered one of the classic colors for fur coats, as well as a variety of accessories made of mink fur. As with other types of mink, it has excellent wear resistance and resistance to moisture.
Mink "violet"
  "Violet" ( "violet") - a rare "sapphire" mink mutation, which has a light gray color. In contrast to the original tone "sapphire" mink pelts that have a less noticeable transition from light to dark sides of the ridge. The rest of the "violet" fits the general description of the characteristics of Finnish mink: quite a long beard and thick underfur gives this fur special elegance and beauty.
   From the point of the "violet" of mink clothing design is one feature: a coat of fur that will suit to the person not every lady. The problem is that a light gray-blue hue "violet" too "pale", and if the lady is not very bright appearance, it can really get lost in a fur. Therefore, this type of mink is not very common on the streets of Russian cities.

White mink
White - white - mink, in recent years has become very popular and is located literally at the height of fashion. Each collection of furs is bound to have a few models, made entirely of this snow-white fur. Unlike many other shades of mink, white mink does not transfer color from a light to dark: it is the same smooth white skin tones, which allows you to create a single color canvas.
Fantasy designers are not limited to the use of a simple white mink. It combines a variety of modern ways of processing: punching, laser clipping, in which the fur burn so that it formed patterns of the different height of hair, the effect of "natural feet" Unfortunately, the Russian product in white mink found is quite rare and are rather an exception. Much more common darker shades (not white, but rather, beige) - light beige "pearls" ( "pearl's") and gray-beige "Topaz" ( "palomino").
Cross mink
Ongoing work of breeders leads to the fact that the market every year there is a large variety of color mutations of mink. One of the most popular today is the hybrid "Phillips" mink "black cross". Natural colors of mink - a combination of very black and pure white flowers. This black, walking along the mountain range, near the "shoulders" of the animal forms a distinct cross on a white background. It can be found at fur auctions, and other interesting options for cross mink - blue ( "sapphire cross"), pastelevaya ( "pastel cross"), or gray mink with markings Silver Cross (silver cross). But such games are sold very rarely, and are much more expensive.

Mink "jaguar"
«Jaguar» ( "jaguar") - an extremely interesting type of hybrid mink, reminiscent of the traditional colors of the skin of a cow. This mink has a bright white base color skins on which the scattered black spots irregular shapes. Because this coloring - is the result of breeding and not dyeing, mink "jaguar" did not lose the properties inherent to the natural fur: it has a high resistance to wear and very beautiful color that the sun is more golden. From this black spots show through even more brightly on the skins. From the "Jaguar" masters make a variety of fur products. Including - the original fur coats, coats and jackets. In contrast to the pure white mink, "Jaguar," due to its color creates a very picturesque spotty fabric that does not require additional decoration.
Mink "Stardust"
"Stardust» - "stardust" - a very rare variant mutation Scandinavian mink. This is a gray mink, with tiny white patches spine. Dimensions of the party, which appears on the fur auctions, can be limited literally hundreds of skins. If we consider that the average size of mink pelts coming for the manufacture of products - this is usually a square 15x15 cm, then the whole "Stardust" party mink can sew just one or two fur coats. This makes the "Stardust" is very expensive fur belonging to the premium class. Analogous small batches placed on the market and some other hybrid mink party.
"Marble" Mink
"Marble" mink ( "marble") - probably the only option when the yellow tint fur obtained not through bleaching, and as a result of mutation. This is a unique hybrid mink, which has a dark yellow color with chocolate stains. Like some other hybrid mink, "marble" is produced in very small batches, so it is expensive and highly prized in the furriers environment.

Dyed mink
Despite the fact that breeders all over the world every day working to increase the number and variety of colors of mink, master, engaged in the handling of furs, constantly experimenting with fur, turning it into a different color. Most often used for painting mink traditional immersion dyeing and toning. Most often they are used when you want to get mink comparatively light brown tone simulation more expensive dark brown mink. Thus, some manufacturers of fur coats and products may even mislead their customers, giving dyed mink for more valuable species of fur. There are other, more complex multilayer technology dyeing. For example, hole light color can stain redundant top of spine, and then turns on the skins the effect of so-called "snow vershinki» - "snow-top". Mink colors close to the wild, are often subjected to bleaching, creating a variety of shades of "gold" burrows. In addition, often use a variety of ways to enhance the ranges of color to make them stand out against the background of a lighter side of the skin.
At the end of the last century was the invention of a hit stencil dyeing mink. Then the skins of these animals painted leopard, tiger and other tropical predators. Today, with the help of computer painting (it is called digital) in the hole can be applied to any multi-colored patterns. Opportunities offered masters mink staining technology allows even greater use of this fur. After all, today mink - the only fur, from which you can sew a single canvas, a similar fabric and use it not only for clothing, but also in the interior.
However, buying a fur coat of mink painted, it is necessary to take into account that the impact of the chemicals that make up the colors, change the properties of several fur. On average, dyed mink can serve its owner for 4-5 years less than mink natural colors. Determine if the mink exposed to staining, it is possible on the reverse side of the color of her skin - Mezdra. If the color is natural, the membrane is white, if colored - the color to be scrapings.
Plucked mink
The desire to expand the opportunities for designers mink lead to the fact that it is not only painted in a variety of colors, but also changing the texture of fur Sami. Tweak - one of the ways to change the hole and give it some additional properties. The essence of the method is that the fur guard hair removed, after which the skins remain a velvety underfur. The result is a texture resembling natural velvet, which is extremely pleasant to the touch. Often, such technology is combined with other types of fur processing to obtain the most unexpected results. Particularly fond of the designers use a pinch of mink combined with a hairstyle.
Sheared mink
Mowing mink - another way to change the nature of this valuable fur. This technology shortens the length of guard hair mink. As a result, the fur becomes shorter, but it is necessary to hold a hand over skin, as immediately feel tingling, especially if the iron against the hair growth. It is often combined with other cut mink processing technologies, in particular with a pinch. In this case, after plucking spine, received the "velvet" is further trimmed to the desired height. And from such a "velvet" can make the invoice "Corduroy" by applying Grooving - technology layered haircuts fur. A few years ago it was invented mink latest processing technology, such as laser cutting, which allows you to put on a variety of mink volume patterns. The top of the application of a variety of mink processing technology has come, perhaps, to 2001, when designers were obtained from her materials, quite similar to the original fur. In one of these experiments, for example, mink, painted in two layers, plucked, treated Grooving technology and eventually received corduroy, which had a different color depth "scars".

Mink Blekglama
   Blekglama - American black mink highest quality, which is grown on fur farms in the United States. This kind of mink fur is considered one of the most expensive in the world fur fashion and appreciated not only designers, but also wealthy buyers. It is known that there is a coat of Blekglama in wardrobes Liza Minnelli, Sophia Loren and other world znameniostey.
    The main difference between a mink Blekglama from Scandinavian and Russian - is the length of the top coat. It is practically identical to the length of underfur, which gives the fur special velvety appearance and texture. Natural Blekglama - it is very dark mink, at first glance, black. But if you look closely, you can see it light brownish tint. This effect is called experts "oil color". Blekglama leather fabric is very light and flexible, so that from it we can sew a variety of products, without losing the quality and even more emphasizing the beauty of fur.
   Trademark Blekglama was developed and put into circulation by specialists American Legend fur auction, which is regularly held in Seattle. That's where the best in quality mink began to assign a special name. Thus each buyer of such goods shall be issued a special branded labels, in order that he could mark his every product. One lot (as a rule, it is 30 skins of the females and 15 males skins) - one label.
    But as Blekglama is today one of the most famous brands in the world of fur, it is still quite often counterfeited. Any korotkoostnaya mink, which are painted by a special technology (when it is not only beautiful skin, but also bleached leather fabric) can be issued for the full Blekglamu. Unscrupulous sellers save on such operations, about 30, and even 50% of the skins.
Mink Bleknafa
   Bleknafa - the best mink, which comes from fur farms in Canada. By analogy with the American cousin - mink Blekglama - it is sold to specialized NAFA fur auction in Toronto, which is assigned a special name and labels. Bleknafa and Blekglama inherently very similar and, in general, no significant differences have not, except for tags. Even the price is about the same from them. As Blekglama, Bleknafa has an intense black color with a barely noticeable brown tint. Features of both the North American mink lies in the fact that the party skins coming from different farms of the continent, may differ significantly from each other. After all, farmers in growing animals use a variety of food, they are affected by different climate and other natural features. Because of this hole from different parties, and sometimes even impossible to use the same product - they are different in color and texture. Because of this, the auction bids are lots of individual farms (in contrast to Mink Scandinavian which simply sorted by color, in spite of the origin). So real mink Bleknafa Blekglama and, depending on their origin, can vary even in shade from almost black to brown, which is closest to the color of mahogany. This hole is clearly present with brown tint tinted allowed in order to get the black, which is the hallmark of this type of mink.
   Length of the top coat in mink and Bleknafa Blekglama can also vary widely: there are also the party with long hair, which is strongly reminiscent of Danish mink, but only has a dense underfur. There mink with extra-short hair, when the spine at the level even lower podpushka. This mink looks as if it is already subjected to plucking. But no matter what the type was not mink branded Bleknafa, she always has an excellent external characteristics: the evenness of the hair, elasticity and silkiness.

Winter mink
The manufacture of products of their masters mink is used as a winter fur mink and its old version. Winter mink - the densest fur of the animal, which is fluffy and thick undercoat. Due to this fur is not only warmer, but somewhat more difficult. In addition, mink winter, usually painted in a slightly different shade than in summer (eg, winter mink natural brown color is darker and intense color of the fur in the winter season) is important to at tailoring of a product used fur the same quality. Then the density of fur will be uniform and the product will last a long time.
Summer mink
As in nature, and upon dilution in the cell, mink sheds twice a year. The spring molt begins in the early spring and flows slowly. First, dull and thinning hair on the head, neck and sides of the burrows, and then changes the hair color. It becomes more red, a little lighter than in winter. At the same time it is becoming more rare and underfur. Finally it comes to tail. This protracted spring molt almost imperceptibly into the autumn, when summer hair starts again replaced in the "winter version" in the reverse order: from the tail to the head. However, despite a rare structure and a shade old mink fur is also used in the production of fur products. They are more light, a little less warm and bright tone.