How to distinguish a natural sheepskin coat from an artificial one? How to distinguish a sheepskin coat from an artificial thing: a few tricks of specialists Is a sheepskin coat natural or not

We love winter for the opportunity to wear beautiful outerwear. A sheepskin coat is also among our seasonal favorites: it’s hard to imagine a jacket in which it would be just as warm, comfortable and beautiful in a dank November, or in a festive December.

Another plus of a sheepskin coat is that with the help of the most ordinary, slightly wide model in black or coffee color, it will not be difficult to make a good set. She can handle both the bohemian-romantic mood of the 70s and the rebellious spirit of the 90s.

The brutally rough look of this jacket is deceptive: like any other thing made from natural materials, a sheepskin coat requires careful care. But, of course, no matter how diligently and no matter how much love you pore over your favorite jacket, if it is made of low-quality materials, a tragic fate awaits it.

Surprisingly, even from reputable sources you can still find extremely conflicting advice on how to choose, how to wear and how to care for a sheepskin coat. In fact, many of them turn out to be just outdated stereotypes, from the endless repetition of which we are rather tired. We asked Izeta Hajiyeva, the founder of her own brand Izeta, to debunk them: the designer shared with us professional secrets that will allow you not only to accurately choose a sheepskin coat, but also wear it for many years, without fear of natural or fashionable disasters.

Sheepskin coat is any jacket "fur inside"

Not really. First of all, a sheepskin coat is a product made from tanned sheepskin. Tanning is a method of processing leather with special substances, which give it a characteristic appearance, thereby increasing its wear resistance. This process got its name thanks to the ordinary oak: the first tannins were obtained from "ink nuts", which were collected from trees infected with the fungus.

And how exactly the processed sheepskin will be used ─ depends on the ideas of the designers. It often happens that the mezra, that is, the subcutaneous part of the skin, of a sheepskin coat is processed in such a way that the product can be worn on both sides. Although, of course, the classic sheepskin coat is the one where the sheepskin is used with a pile inside.

Easy to distinguish good from bad

Professional, but not us. External trade dress does not guarantee quality any more. The main signs of a poor-quality thing will appear during its operation. But some points can and should be guided even at the time of choice.

The main distinguishing feature is the smell. It should exclude the obvious presence of chemistry. “I would call such a smell “calm,” our expert clarifies.

To understand the quality of the pile, touch it: it should be silky and pleasant. If it is rude and caustic, then this indicates the dishonesty of the manufacturer. And of course, the mezdra (remember that this is the inside of the skin) should be well dyed, and the “cut” of the sheepskin coat, if visible, should not be whitish.

In order for the sheepskin coat to serve you for more than one season, you definitely shouldn’t save on its purchase: choose only a trusted seller and pay attention to the price. It is difficult to say how much such a jacket can and should cost, because the number of zeros on the price tag depends not only on the quality of the product, but also on the design and, of course, on the brand. Tip: choose a jacket made from large cuts, because when wet, the likelihood of deformation during shrinkage of the sheepskin coat will be less.

Sheepskin coat made of faux fur is immediately visible

Before, yes, but now, alas, no. Faux fur is indeed more shiny, like children's toys, but it is better to connect the sense of touch to vision: natural fur is warm and dry, while the feeling of touching synthetics is most often not the most pleasant.

Examine sections of the skin, if they are available (for example, at the sutures). They immediately show what we are dealing with: natural leather or its imitation of polyurethane.

It will not be superfluous to check the material of the sheepskin coat for creases. The dressing of genuine leather, from which sheepskin coats are sewn, is such that there can be no creases on the product, even if the jacket itself has been stored folded for a long time. If you have a sheepskin coat in front of you that “asks for an iron”, then it is more likely to be made of synthetics.

A heavy sheepskin coat is better than a light one: it is warmer in it

Not at all. Heavier does not mean warmer. And other things being equal, a light sheepskin coat is better. Weight indicates the quality of the raw materials from which it is made (for example, a weightless cashmere sweater warms no worse than its woolen brother). And the warmest - with a long pile. By the way, sheepskin coats made of merino - a special thin sheep's wool - warm very well. They weigh much less than the classic version (sheepskin coats of past eras are recalled here).

Dyed sheepskin coat is terribly impractical

It depends on the quality of the coloring itself: if it is done in accordance with all the rules, then such a sheepskin coat will not be inferior to its “natural” counterpart in any way. Of course, if the skin of the sheepskin coat is light, you need to be on the alert with it, as with any other brand of item in your wardrobe. If you “want, but it pricks” ─ pay attention to sheepskin coats with a special coating, reminiscent of lamination. And do not forget about the large arsenal of water and dirt-repellent sprays and other products that are designed to make life easier for you and prolong the life of suede and tanned leather.

Sheepskin coat is not afraid of snow

Afraid, and how! Therefore, you should not wear a sheepskin coat when the forecast promises precipitation in the form of sleet or, especially, rain. And wallowing in it in the snow (you never know) ─ is also not worth it. For such weather and for active winter recreation, special anti-vandal clothing has long existed. It is better to leave a sheepskin coat for a dry hike and a confident “minus” in the yard.

The moisture of a sheepskin coat is dangerous for two reasons: the skin can dry out in spots and shrink unevenly. Therefore, if you still get caught in the rain, at home you need to shake the sheepskin coat thoroughly and dry it with soft napkins away from heat sources. The suede surface can be cleaned with the abrasive side of a dishwashing sponge, and then combed with a brush. If, after drying, there are stains on the sheepskin coat or if there is complex contamination on it, do not even try to solve the problem yourself: ruin both the thing and your own nerves. Dry cleaning is here to help.

1 /14

Sheepskin coat is not fashionable

This is not true. A sheepskin coat is a timeless thing. She was, is and will be. Like red lipstick, pumps and a little black dress. Trends come and go, but these basic classics stay in your wardrobe for years to come. Sheepskin coat, in many cases, is bought for more than one season. So, it will be better for you if this thing does not "oblige" you. But if you already have a classic model, feel free to choose slightly more extravagant options to replace it. Now, for example, sheepskin coats with a long pile are in fashion. Jackets with uneven and torn edges will also be relevant.

What brands to look for:

1 /14

Victoria by Victoria Beckham

Balenciaga

Givenchy

ATTENTION! A correct barcode does not yet give a 100% guarantee of the originality of the product. However, an incorrect barcode is a clear sign of a fake.

Enter 13 digits of the barcode:Verify

You have decided to properly prepare for the winter and buy a sheepskin coat. Everyone knows that nothing warms better than natural clothes. To date, the industry has learned to produce artificial fur, which can only be distinguished from natural fur by a competent expert. Our tips will help you determine a quality sheepskin coat no worse than a professional.

Left - natural, right - artificial (fabric visible)

10 steps to identify natural sheepskin coat

1. 1 step. We study the price tag. You must remember that a sheepskin coat made of genuine leather cannot cost less than 20,000 rubles.
2. 2 step. We call on our sense of smell to help. If you smell chemical paint, it's fake fur. Natural sheepskin coat exudes leather and sheepskin aromas.
3. 3 step. We are looking for a label from the inside with information about the composition of the product and how to care for it. If this information does not convince you of the quality of the thing, go to 4 step.
4. 4 step. Run your hand over the sheepskin coat. Natural leather will leave a mark from your hand.
5. 5 step. Crush any corner of the sheepskin coat. If he without delay became as before, then the thing is of high quality. If there are gaps, then no.
6. 6 step. Examine the fur on the wrong side. Try to pull out the villi. If a piece of fur is left in the hands, then it is synthetic. Natural fur is difficult to pull out. It is evenly colored, very soft to the touch. All villi lie in the same direction. If you push them apart, the skin will be visible. A fabric will be visible between the artificial villi (PHOTO above).
7. 7 step. On the turn-down collar and cuffs you can see open sections of the skin. Study them carefully. If the product is natural, then the cuts will be uneven.
8. 8 step. If possible, put a couple of drops of water on the sheepskin coat. If they are absorbed, then the skin is artificial. With natural, as a rule, drops of water will roll onto the floor.
9. 9 step. Take the sheepskin coat in your hands and try to estimate its weight. Natural sheepskin coats are usually heavy compared to their light synthetic counterparts.
10. 10 step. Consider seams. In a quality product, they are hidden under the skin. All parts are sewn to each other very tightly and neatly.

How to buy a sheepskin coat?

They say that a beautiful fur coat is an indicator of material wealth and security, since it is quite expensive. Nowadays, you can see sheepskin coats much more often. This is explained by the fact that a sheepskin coat is sometimes lighter than a fur coat, but also more practical, and a natural sheepskin coat looks no worse, and sometimes even more expensive and richer than a fur coat. But in order for the sheepskin coat to retain its appearance and last as many seasons as possible, you need to know certain nuances even when buying such a product.

The most important thing when buying a sheepskin coat is leather. It is always necessary to find out from the skin of which animal the thing is made. Long-lasting and resistant is the skin of calf, buffalo, and bull. The surface of such a sheepskin coat should be fairly smooth, without a single scratch, stain, roughness, as well as any traces of glue or paint. To determine the quality of a sheepskin coat and check its naturalness, you must squeeze a part of the sheepskin coat in your hand, for example, a sleeve, and release it. Genuine leather will straighten and smooth out very quickly, acquiring its original appearance and not deforming at the same time.

The next step in determining naturalness is to check the wrong side of the sheepskin coat. The fur, as a rule, should be of the same length and the same thickness in all places, without the absence of bald patches. Otherwise, everything will indicate the opposite. The thickness of the skin should be exactly the same - the skin should be the same everywhere, smooth, so you should carefully check the neck, armhole, bends near the zipper.

Also, an indicator that allows you to determine the quality of a sheepskin coat and the naturalness of the skin is always its cut. To do this, carefully examine the skin slightly stretching it. If white areas are visible on parts of the leather and in the seams, this means that the leather is dyed using surface spraying and is not natural.

It is also important to check all zippers, fasteners, buttons, buttons. All kinds of decorations. They should not stick, it is very easy to move without putting much effort into it.

If you draw on the surface of the sheepskin coat or rub the skin with your finger, then no stains, stains should remain on it, it should not exfoliate at all.

How to choose a sheepskin coat according to the figure?

When trying on, it is very important to pay attention to how the product sits on the figure, given that in winter warm sweaters are always worn under a sheepskin coat. When you decide to determine the quality of a sheepskin coat, pay attention to the surface of the sheepskin coat, namely whether the surface is classic, it is often a double face, not very practical, unlike leather-like ones, which are impregnated with special chemical compounds. But here it is worth considering that such sheepskin coats are not at all suitable for dry cleaning.

How to care for a sheepskin coat?

In order to be able to preserve the beautiful appearance of the sheepskin coat after its purchase and extend it for more than one season, it is worth taking care of the sheepskin coat properly. During the period when a sheepskin coat is worn, one should not forget about the water-repellent agent, which greatly protects the surface of the sheepskin coat. If the sheepskin coat turned out to be wet, then in no way should it be dried on electric heaters, which can lead to shape deformation. For such a case, the sheepskin coat is hung on a hanger and waiting for it to dry naturally. In the summer, as well as in the spring, when the sheepskin coat is usually in the closet, you need to remember about such pests as moths and, in such a case, buy special products for processing. It is also worth protecting the sheepskin coat from direct sunlight. It is worth cleaning such products only in dry cleaning, as it will fully provide full cleaning and careful care. You now know how to determine the quality of a sheepskin coat and will be able to choose the optimal model.

Thanks to the development of advanced technologies, the modern fashion industry creates a wide variety of artificial materials. Often, only a professional can distinguish them from natural ones, especially when it comes to synthetic fur. Therefore, if you decide to purchase such an expensive thing as a natural sheepskin coat, you need to approach the matter responsibly so as not to become the owner of a fake.

10 ways to be different

Please note that the cost of a sheepskin coat made of genuine leather is never less than 20 thousand rubles. A suspiciously low price is a serious reason to think.

First of all, go shopping only in a specialized salon. By purchasing a similar product on the market, you risk becoming a victim of fraud in advance. After all, unscrupulous sellers will try their best to impose their goods on you.

It will not be superfluous to take a friend or one of your relatives with you, who will not let you lose your vigilance and will remind you of the various nuances of the purchase.

• First of all, find a label on the sheepskin coat (it is usually neatly sewn into the seam from the inside of the thing) and carefully study it. It should contain information about the composition of the product, as well as tips for care.
• Stroke the surface of the product with your hand: a palm print will definitely remain on natural leather.
• Then evaluate the sheepskin coat visually. There should be no creases on it, despite the fact that the thing could be stored folded.

• Turn the product inside out: natural fur is always uniform, evenly colored, the villi should be directed in one direction, as a rule, from top to bottom. Real fur is soft to the touch and difficult to pull out. Synthetic usually climbs in bunches. If you set fire to a few villi, then smell the singed wool (if the thing is natural) or the characteristic synthetic smell (for an artificial thing).

Try to push the villi apart: in a natural sheepskin coat under the pile you will see a leather base - mezra, in an artificial one - an ordinary fabric.

• Try wrinkling your clothes. On a natural sheepskin coat, the folds will straighten out instantly, but the artificial material will not soon become homogeneous.
• Find open sections of skin (on a turn-down collar or sleeve cuff) and carefully examine them. On natural fur, they are not completely even, even for perfectly dressed skins.
• Also check out the seams. They should be hidden, hidden under the skin. A high-quality sheepskin coat is stitched as neatly as possible, fragments of clothing are connected very tightly.

• Finally, smell the product. A quality item has the smell of leather and sheepskin. If you felt the chemical smell of paint - this is clearly an artificial thing.
• Try researching the water resistance of clothing. Drop a drop of water on the surface: water will roll off the skin, and synthetics will immediately absorb it.
• Estimate the weight of the product. Artificial sheepskin coats for the most part are very light. A natural thing will not weigh less than two kilograms.

What to do if there are doubts?

If you have carefully checked the thing you plan to buy, then consider this interesting point. Having discovered during the inspection single, barely noticeable defects on the material (veins, scratches, etc.), then there is no need to blame the manufacturer. On the contrary, it proves that before you is a natural thing.

Fur experts believe that Canadian and Finnish furs are considered the best in quality, Romanian, Bulgarian and Yugoslav furs are considered cheaper.

The price of French, German and American sheepskin coats is much higher, but they cope worse with Russian frosts. But most of the sheepskin coats available for sale are Turkish, factory or handicraft.
Handicraft ones are of very low quality, but factory ones are quite good, the manufacturer is usually indicated on the label, and they are often passed off as Italian.

Fur velor (as experts call the material from which sheepskin coats are sewn) from Russian and Turkish sheepskins is considered the warmest and most wearable. They have dense thick skin and very thick fur. All this does not lend itself to intricate cut. of this velor are the heaviest, but also durable. They are not cold even in the Far North. Warm and heavy also include Australian and British skins.

Spanish fur velor (it is used to sew Italian sheepskin coats) is light and soft compared to them. The skin is thin, porous, the fur is not very thick, soft, airy. of it is not suitable for frost. Yes, and his age is short. But it is good to sew beautiful, elegant, complex cut things from it. The last peep is Italian lightweight jackets, jackets. For their manufacture, the most delicate material is taken - the skins of lambs. "Weightlessness" is achieved due to the fact that the fur is sheared, and the skin is thinned, cutting off the transverse layers. But at the same time, along with weight, heat-shielding properties and wear are reduced.

But this is nothing more than a theory. So How can you be sure of the quality of a sheepskin coat by external signs?

1. The so-called “graph-writing” effect will indicate a good front finish - if you run a finger or palm over the sheepskin coat, a clearly visible trace remains. The upper leather is called fur velor, and it should be soft, with a pile uniform over the entire area.

2. Inspect the sheepskin coat carefully - on the front side there should be no pockmarks, scratches, salt stains, fatty deposits, traces of paint and glue. Before selling, the thing, unless it is handicraft, will be cleaned of dust, thread ends and clipped hair. At the bottom of the product, sleeves and along the edge of the sides, the hair must be trimmed and not visible from the front side of the parts.

3. If a sheepskin coat is coated with a water-repellent film, such a coating is expected to be uniform, uniform, elastic, non-tacky, and resistant to dry and wet friction.

4. As for finishing, the corners of the welt pockets must be fixed. And take a closer look at the seams, which are even in a good sheepskin coat, without gaps, folds, wrinkles and hair trapping in the seam.

5. In a sheepskin coat sewn to the conscience, the seams are made double. Pull the product with your hands behind the floor, the sleeves of a good thing should not stretch. Remember the sheepskin coat in your hands - with good dressing, the surface will quickly smooth out. Smell - there should not be a strong smell of chemicals.

6. When buying, pay attention not only to the sheepskin coat itself, but also to the markings. It must contain comprehensive information on origin, operation, care and cleaning. Because some, alas, are not subject to dry cleaning at all.

7. Perfect sheepskin coat when sold, it is supplied with a personalized certificate confirming that the product will not lose its appearance after cleaning. And in this case, the sheepskin coat is accepted for dry cleaning if it has been worn for no more than 5 years. And then they can accept it, but ‘without claims’. The same applies to new, but of dubious quality things - dry cleaning can seriously spoil them. And you just need to be prepared for this risk. Or don't buy these things.

It is worth noting that it is best to choose a sheepskin coat in a store, and not in the market.
When choosing a sheepskin coat, focus on the manufacturer. Finnish and Canadian products are considered the best, but not everyone can afford them at a cost. Yugoslav, Romanian and Bulgarian have a much lower cost, and the quality is not much worse. German, American and French sheepskin coats, although they cost a lot, are completely unsuitable for the Russian winter - they cannot cope with the cold.
But most of the products presented in Russia are made in Turkey. If a Turkish sheepskin coat is sewn at a factory, then its quality may not even be very bad, but a product made in artisanal conditions will not please you with anything. I am generally silent about Chinese products. That is why it is so important to know choose a sheepskin coat.

It is most profitable to buy a sheepskin coat at the end of winter. This is already “out of season” and a good thing can be bought at half the price than in autumn or early winter.
The heavier the sheepskin coat and the simpler its cut, the warmer and more durable it is. This is explained simply: thick leather protects well from frost and does not wear out so quickly. In order to sew a sheepskin coat intricate cut, the skin is usually artificially thinned, which undoubtedly affects its durability and heat-insulating properties.

Choosing a sheepskin coat, slide your finger along its surface. A quality item should leave a mark. The pile on the entire product should be uniform and soft.

The smoother and silkier the surface, the higher the quality.

Shake the item. If you hear a characteristic crunch, then do not buy such a sheepskin coat - when wet, it will become a “stake”.

If the sheepskin coat is dyed, run a white handkerchief over the surface of the skin. Is there any paint left on the scarf? Such a product "sheds" after the first rain.

By the way, let's touch on the issue of coloring in more detail. Turn the dyed sheepskin coat inside out and inspect the wrong side of the skin. If the product is dyed correctly, then the paint will completely saturate the skin. If the paint is not visible from the inside, then it is not resistant.

Carefully inspect the sheepskin coat. The surface of the leather should be free of scratches, stains, glue residues and traces of paint. Remember the skin in your hands - it should quickly acquire its original appearance.

Check the seams carefully. The lines should be uniform, without gaps and puffs. In a good product, the seams are double.

Examine the sheepskin coat from the inside. If it is correctly cut and sewn, then the fur on all the details will be combed in one direction (from bottom to top). If this is not the case in your sheepskin coat, then be prepared for the fact that when wet, the parts will differ in color, since water will drain from them in different ways. In addition, such a sheepskin coat will be uncomfortable to wear.

Fur from the inside should be, in addition, uniform along the entire length and without bald spots. The hairs, if you pull on them, should not remain in your hands.

Lay the sheepskin coat on a horizontal surface. No bumps should form - this indicates that the sheepskin coat is stretched.

All information about the manufacturer, about the product and its care must be presented in full. Remember that some sheepskin coats are not subject to dry cleaning, and information about this must be indicated.

note that in accordance with the "Law on the Rights of the Consumer", the period for the exchange of fur products is six months. And not six months from the date of purchase, but six months from the beginning of the season. The season is from November 1st to March 1st. That is, if you bought an item in the middle of the season, then the period is counted until the end of this season (for example, from February 1 to March 1) and then the remaining days from the beginning of the season (from November 1 to March 1). During this period, the store is obliged to either replace the defective product or return its full cost. If the price has increased since then, then the money is returned taking into account the new value of the item. If the price has fallen, then the full amount given upon purchase is returned (Article 18).

Tips for those who are already standing at the counter and holding their favorite sheepskin coat in their hands. What to pay attention to again:

1. Try on a sheepskin coat: it should sit flat on you, not “falling” back. If the thing slips from the shoulders to the back, then it is poorly sewn. And do not buy into the assurances of sellers that this is how it should be.

2. Choose a model that sits on the figure not “back to back”, but with some margin - leave room for a warm sweater! Raise your hands and make sure nothing is blocking your movement.

3. Spread the sheepskin coat on the counter inside out and wash it with your hand along the entire length. All plates should be soft to the touch and have the same thickness.

4. Now let's check how well the sheepskin coat is colored. Sweep along the line with the damp tip of a handkerchief. If the scarf gets dirty, then the coloring was of poor quality. Or before sewing, the skins were stored for a long time in a dusty warehouse. In both cases, the sheepskin coat will stain clothes. And after cleaning it can peel off.

5. If the fur is unevenly colored from the inside, if some plates are clearly darker, while others are lighter, then after dry cleaning this drawback will definitely increase.

6. Check the quality of tailoring: no protruding threads and crooked seams.

7. Intricate finishes (silver pattern, halogen glitter, etc.) do not last long! In fact, you will buy a disposable thing, all the beauty of which will disappear after the first cleaning. Maybe it's better to do without sequins and buy a classic model?

8. Pay attention to the edges: if they are made of artificial leather, then after dry cleaning they will crack and warp.

9. Do not trust salespeople's assurances that "this sheepskin coat is better because it has a water-repellent coating." Such a coating simply does not exist - everyone is afraid of moisture.

ATTENTION! The average service life of a sheepskin coat is 3 years

Which "surface" is better?

Nikolai Orlovsky, commercial director of the factory for the production of leather and fur "F. T. V. Golden Fleece ":
- The outer surface of sheepskin coats can be divided into fur velor (suede) and surfaces with applied protective or decorative coatings (outwardly, they resemble leather). All coatings have their pros and cons. Sheepskin coats made of fur velor get wet a little more than others, but they are much less afraid of scratches. Sheepskin coats with coatings they tolerate wet weather more easily, they are easier to care for (for example, wipe with a slightly damp cloth). But they may still have scratches.

Care Tips

If the sheepskin coat gets wet, it should be blotted with a dry cloth (do not rub!) And dry at room temperature, away from heating devices.
If the sheepskin coat is very wrinkled, it can be “ironed” with an ordinary iron. But just be very careful! Iron a completely dry sheepskin coat through a white dry cotton fabric. Set the iron to medium temperature.
Shoe care products are quite suitable for