Rabbit fur is widely used by fur manufacturers: craftsmen can dress rabbit fur to look like beaver, mink and even chinchilla.
Fur that looks like beaver is not always beaver: on the market there are cases where rabbit (Rex) coats are passed off as beaver garments. To avoid a mistake, examine the garment carefully.
How to recognise rabbit fur
- Rabbit fur feels soft whichever way you stroke it. Beaver fur is soft too, but feels stiff against the nap. If the leather side of a beaver pelt is dark yellow, the fur is old and will not last long.
- Ask the seller for the garment's documents stating the type of fur.
- Take along someone who knows fur: an experienced furrier will tell beaver from Rex rabbit in a few minutes.
The main difference is durability: a beaver garment can be worn for five years or longer, a rabbit one noticeably less. Dyeing and shearing extend the wear life of rabbit garments somewhat; sheared rabbit fur resembles velvet, so it is used for more than just outerwear.
Rabbit fur coats and short coats are popular with young people: they are more affordable than mink and can be replaced more often to keep up with fashion.
Rex
Rex is a rabbit breed with even, dense, soft short fur. There are white, coloured and combined colourings (for example, a dark back and light sides). The first short-haired rabbits appeared in France in 1919; for their valuable reddish-brown fur they were named "Castor Rex", the "king of beavers". Dwarf Rex rabbits weigh 1.1–1.25 kg and have a stocky, cylindrical body and dense coat.
Orylag
Orylag is a rabbit breed developed by French breeders from Rex rabbits; the selection took about 15 years. Orylag fur is warm, light and beautiful, and the pelt is thin, soft, elastic and dense. Colours are reddish-brown ("beaver") and grey-white ("chinchilla"); grey-white is rarer and more expensive. The fur takes dye well without losing its sheen.
Orylag is a registered trademark owned by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA); distribution of this fur is controlled, and only a limited number of farms raise it.
Rabbit fur coats
Rabbit fur coats are light and warm, which is why they are popular. The common belief that this fur protects poorly against cold is not always true: a lot depends on the quality of dressing. With good care a garment will last longer than people tend to think.
A few tips on caring for rabbit fur:
- do not dry fur near heaters;
- dry the coat on a hanger at room temperature, brushing the fur with a soft brush both with and against the nap;
- to protect against moths, store the coat in a cover with an insect repellent (folk remedies include tobacco leaves and orange peel);
- to keep the fur glossy, occasionally wipe it with a cloth lightly moistened with vinegar; dry fur can be brushed with a little glycerine.
For serious cleaning and repairs it is better to go to professionals: many stains cannot be removed at home, and you may ruin the garment.
If a coat made of expensive fur is beyond your budget, consider rabbit fur garments: modern processing offers a wide variety of colours and styles.
