What to do with vintage fur coat - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

What to do with vintage fur coat

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hi all,

I can’t recall if this has been discussed here before, but I’m wondering how any of you have handled an inherited fur coat.

I have one that belonged to my grandmother — I guess it dates to the 1940s or 50s? I don’t know what kind of fur it is. It was clearly worn and loved, and it is now not in the best of shape. It’s been kept in a cedar chest for some years now, but I think the hides are a bit dry and some tears at seams are evident.

I would never wear this, and it’s not my size anyway. I suspect that it could be refashioned or remade into something else, or the fur repurposed into cushion covers or the like. It could even be cut into a vest or jacket (it’s fairly long with wide sleeves). But I’m not a fur person.

Have any of you dealt with donating, selling, or otherwise handling an old inherited fur? Can you tell me about your experience?

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Runcarla

Veteran

Reach out to artists who work with textiles.

JAileen

Veteran

The non profit I belong to that operates a thrift store gets lots of furs donated. We have a well advertised sale at the end of fall, and sell all of it that we’ve received during the year. We get everything - full length coats, short jackets, stoles, and even little mink bodies head to toe. Those are the weirdest things IMO. A lot of them have problems because they are supposed to be stored in the cold. I bought a small piece a few years ago. It had been cut off the bottom of a coat. I thought about making a scarf. It’s in my freezer still.

We make a lot of money on our sale. The money goes toward our various programs. For example, we have food pantry for low income seniors. It costs us about $10,000 per month. So selling a fur coat really helps. If you can’t or don’t want to wear the coat, you could donate it to an organization like ours, which maybe your grandmother would have approved of.

Synne

Veteran

Do you want to keep it (or a version of it) for sentimental reasons? If not, you could try selling it. I have bought several vintage fur coats over the years, but had no luck reselling furs. It seems buyers are hard to come by, you have to be very patient. I have tried selling a mistake-buy of a mink coat for a while now, relatively cheap. Had no luck so far, and will drop it off at the local goodwill as soon as it reopens after lockdown.

ChrisM

Veteran

We took a fur coat that belonged to my mother to a local furrier (we live in the midwest). The SA was awesome – she inspected the coat and gave us great information on the type of fur used to make it, the style, and some great options.

They charged us to clean it, and then listed it on the furrier’s online website for sale. The coat was in good shape, and was a very pretty color and style that hadn’t dated too much. It ended up being sold to a woman in Milwaukee who, with her sister, purchased it as a gift for their mother who would always wanted a fur coat. The furrier charged a 50% commission. My sisters and I felt that it was well worth it because the coat went to a new home for somebody else to enjoy.

We could have had it made into cushions or even teddy bears to be given to the grandchildren, but in the end the best home for it was with some kind lady who wanted a gift for her mother.

Just an idea -

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, it seems like they are selling for pennies on eBay and the like. Not a huge amount of value in it, I fear.

I remember reading about an organization that uses them for rehabilitating injured wildlife or something like that.

Textile artists is an interesting suggestion — I certainly know some people!

Helena

Veteran

Janet, this link is the British Columbia spca but may be helpful ... It notes that animal shelters use old furs as you say, and also there is a program to donate furs to far north communities where furs are more legitimately needed due to the extreme cold. https://spca.bc.ca/faqs/%E2%80.....-fur-coat/

nuancedream

Veteran

How about tuning the fur into glove liners?

cat2

Veteran

If it is in good enough condition and a timeless or trending cut, a local consignment store may take it. Or if you have a high end charity shop in your area — the Cancer Society sells designer togs in my town — you could donate there. Or you could list on eBay, not to make money but just to find it a new home.

always trying

Veteran

Donate-or if you have a community theater they look for period pices for costumes , so may may want it for their wardrobe stash.

Joy

Veteran

Have a throw or bed spread made for your camper. Use it as a bathrobe.

nemosmom

Veteran

Cuddle coats is an org that takes donations of fur coats for injured wildlife. They are based in MN, but have multiple partners throughout the US that also use them. http://cuddlecoats.com/partners.html

You may also check your local wildlife rehab/rescue to see if they use them.

unfrumped

Veteran

No ideas, but fascinated by all the options. Who knew?

rebekahphoto

Veteran

good suggestions so far!
I have sold fur on ebay, either as "craft" or as vintage. It doesnt always sell for much, but there is a market
Crafters will purchase to make fur animals (teddy bears, santas, etc) or trim for garments,

Another option to donate to a school for the theater or arts dept!

Peta will take donations here & provide a Tax# and a credit to use for some faux fur products. They are donated to homeless or overseas to those in need:
https://www.peta.org/donate/wa.....onate-fur/

MsMary

Veteran

I second the suggestion to donate it to a school theater dept or community theater!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have heard of using them in animal shelters as above. Fur still can be sold to some for money, and I do like Jaileen's suggestion, but I am conflicted. Certainly fur is better vintage than new, but I have mixed emotions about promoting it as an acceptable thing to wear.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

If it’s vintage and you know the animal died decades ago, it’s hardly promoting it in the same way? Certainly my best friend and I have enjoyed wearing her great-aunt’s 2 fox furs for our 1920s dress-ups, even although I do feel slightly nervous in case we get significant criticism- but we haven’t.
There must be so many things that we have done in our own lives that the younger generation and even our own now think is unacceptable- just how society changes. I like J’Aileen’s idea or TG’s idea of sending it a long way north where fur is really useful for warmth.

Staysfit

Veteran

I’m reading the responses with interest but have nothing useful to add. I was given a fur coat that belonged to my great aunt. The coat has a small tear at the pocket. The furriers in my city would not even look at the coat to tell me if it could be repaired. They told me they no longer appraise old furs because they have little value and it is not a good use of their time. The fur looks nice to me....ha ha.... I’m keeping it for now..

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for all the responses! For now, the coat is hanging in our basement closet (the holding zone area) to shake off some of the mothball smell (it was stored in an old cedar chest dor a decade) and confront me every time I open that closet until I decide what to do with it.

It seems quite fragile. Upon handling and inspection, it’s apparent there are at least two different areas with tears, and they seem prone to tear further with handling. I’m not sure what that bodes for the fur’s value, but I’m sure it’s not good. I want to do something that honors the fact that it was a beloved piece, but I just don’t know what that is.

It doesn’t help that I’m having a bit of decision fatigue. I’ve been doing a deep clean out of the storage in our finished basement over the last few days, and I have piles of stuff to donate, and more piles to research and post for sale. I’ve started out strong, selling some things online, but I feel myself getting weary of the piles and disorder and can tell I will soon be tempted to donate the whole lot of it. I hate piles of stuff hanging around so much that even my husband remarked last night that the basement looks totally unlike the typical organized space I usually maintain. It’s a wreck, but I know that’s just a phase on the way to making it feel better.

Ginger

Veteran

The dryness isn't good. Usually that means it will keep drying and tearing, unfortunately. I don't think it's really reversible. However, with a full-size coat (as opposed to a stole or shrug) it's possible there are other areas that aren't as fragile. I like Joy's suggestions; a small throw or maybe a pillow or two would be a better way to use it. It does sound like it won't be able to be used as a coat now, either for resale or theater.

Joyce

(website)

Janet, a friend of mine inherited a fur coat from one of his clients.
He sent it to the fur department at Hudson Bay (if you aren't in Canada there must be one at Saks) had it cleaned and they made it into a blanket with beautiful fabric backing.
Wouldn't it be fun to curl up under this on a winter day?

Gaylene

Veteran

I was faced with a similar situation when I found my mother’s circa’50s fur jacket in a basement closet when cleaning out her house. It too was in a fragile condition after being left in its bag for several decades. The sentimental value was huge but, sentiment aside, I accepted the reality that fur is a natural fabric which decomposes in an environmentally natural way. Thinking of the fur from this perspective, and knowing that fur was never going to be my thing, I removed the satin lining, carefully cut out my mom’s embroidered initials, and then disposed of the balding hide. Sometimes it just is what it is.

I’m sure I felt my mother’s approval...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m wondering about having two throw pillows or small throw blankets made from it — one for my sister and one for me. Hmm.

Here are some pics.

This post has 6 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Sal

Veteran

I have two furs that I inherited. One is my Grandmothers and a cape. I am guessing from the 1950s or even older. One is from 1980 when my Mum went to Sydney. I occasionally wear them, the coat is snug but is wearable.

Personally I don't think wearing, adapting, storing, donating or recycling are wrong decisions. Or selling. I would not buy a new fur coat (easy for me living in a milder climate) but I am fine wearing and using the vintage.

I think cushions could be a good idea.

Ginger

Veteran

That's really lovely, Janet. I'm not a fur expert, but I don't think it's mink. Maybe muskrat?? That looks wonderful for throw blankets. It looks like the tears are on the cuffs, which is one of the hardest parts to re-purpose anyway. (Although they can be made into removable cuffs for a wool coat). And it's lovely having the custom monogram. Original rayon crepe lining, which almost always has some color change. Maybe it can be used as the throw backing.

Anonymous

I like the idea of donating at least some of it to cuddlecoats!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I vote have pillows made from it. Every time you and your sister looks at these pillows, you will think of your aunt and thank her for passing on her beloved fur coat.

My brother gave my Mom and me a Bison fur hide that he shot on a national news anchor's ranch in Montana. We call it Buffalo Bill. It's huge and fits a whole sofa. It is not soft like mink but it feels great in the winter, and with a story behind it it's special.

I hope I'm not offending anyone here ... my brother had the meat processed locally and put it in the freezer for years of enjoyment.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hi Denise! No offense here. I’m not a fan of killing animals, and I don’t wear fur or eat a lot of meat, but I’d be a huge hypocrite if I judged since we own a cattle ranch and have a freezer of beef there. And I wear leather.

I still haven’t decided what to do with it, but you all have given me excellent food for thought. Thank you!

Now, who needs some vintage suitcases, linen handkerchiefs, etc, etc...