When most people think of fur coats, they imagine luxurious items with a high price tag. But what makes these coats so expensive? Is it the materials used? The craftsmanship? The brand?
Many factors go into the fabrication of a new jacket. Fur pelts play a role, but so does the craftsmanship of assembling the coat.
We’re going to take a closer look at why fur coats are so costly and see if the price is worth it. However, If you ever tried on a new jacket, then you know it’s worth every penny.
The typical cost of a fur coat.
These luxurious pieces of clothing can come with a steep price tag, but why? One reason is that the cost of a garment depends mainly on its construction. While furs contribute to the costs (more on that later), a significant contributor is the craftsmanship that goes into each jacket or coat.
One of the most expensive fur coats is a chinchilla. Some of these coats can fetch upwards of $20,000 to $100,000 in some cases. Of course, it’s one of the softest and plush furs you’ll ever feel, but that’s not why it’s expensive. It’s the fur itself and the work that goes into making the coat costly. Chinchilla fur is very fragile, and it requires an expert furrier to craft a beautiful garment. That skill compounded by the time it takes to create it goes into the overall cost.
Another option that might be more economical is mink. They’re one of the most common furs used in coats and accessories. Why? Well, they’re substantially less expensive compared to other furs such as chinchilla and sable. This is because the fur is more plentiful and easier to work with.
The process of creating a timeless garment.
The process of creating a luxurious piece is where the costs originate from.
To start the process, the furrier much first acquire the type of fur they will make the jacket from. Whether this is chinchilla, mink, fox, sable, alpaca, or a different kind of fur, they need to source enough fur of the same type to make the perfect garment.
Some furs come in smaller pelts so they’ll need more of them to make the coat. Others might be larger and not require nearly as many. For example, a chinchilla coat will need around 200 pelts and a fox coat will need approximately 15. Sourcing that many pelts will add to the costs.
Once the furs are on hand, the furrier must prepare the hair for use. This involves cleaning, drying, softening, and possibly dying the fur to the right color. All of these tasks are necessary to make the fur usable for assembly.
Now that the furrier has the furs on hand, they have to assemble the style of coat they’re going for. In addition to the style, whether full length or a stroller, they also have to decide how they’re going to stitch the fur together. They might opt for the skin-on-skin method, which is a bit more traditional and doesn’t take as long, therefore costs less, or they might opt for the letting-out method which takes longer and more skill, making the coat cost even more.
Luxurious furs.
As we discussed, the furrier needs the pelts on hand to start the process. This is the initial cost of the coat and one of the main reasons fur coats are so expensive. Because fur pelts are costly!
A fox pelt, for example, can go for around $50 per pelt. However, a furrier that makes many products might get a discount for buying pelts in bulk. That might not seem like much, but remember they need between 15 and 30 hides to make a coat. Those costs add up.
Mink isn’t too far off from fox as they go for around $50-$60 per pelt. Instead of 15 pelts, though, they need approximately 50 pelts to make a coat. When you add all of that up, that’s over $3,000 in just pelts alone. Other materials are also needed, such as a liner, so keep that in mind when considering the cost of a luxury jacket.
Master craftsmanship.
The biggest reason fur coats are so expensive is the expertise and master craftsmanship of each jacket. Sure, the pelts themselves are costly as shown above, but that is nothing compared to the intensive labor and skill hours that go into each piece.
Depending on the size, style, and type of coat the furrier makes, they can pour up to 100 hours into each one. Rates may vary from furrier to furrier, primarily dictated by their experience. Even at a rate of $50 per hour, as an example, that comes out to $5,000. However, expert furriers can command rates up to $125 per hour.
The cost is worth it, however. It takes a steady hand and expert understanding of fur to create a beautiful and masterfully glamorous coat. When you throw a new mink jacket on the first time, you feel the luxury on your skin. The soft and smooth feel of the fur is why people are willing to pay so much for these coats.
Although the initial costs are pretty high, remember that this coat will last you a lifetime. You can wear it season after season, year after year, and still enjoy its design every time you put it on. Although it’s expensive when purchased new, it’s cost-effective in the long run.
And that, my friends, is why fur coats are so expensive. If you’re willing to plop down $5,000 for a gorgeous new mink stroller or $50,000 for a full-length chinchilla piece, then by all means go right ahead. Just know why you’re dropping those big bucks on your new look – you’re paying for quality, comfort, and a style that cannot be matched.
