There are 2 species known as ‘mink.’ There is the European mink and the American mink. Minks are semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals. The American minks’ fur coat is highly valuable for its’ used in clothing. A side effect of hunting & breeding minks for their pelts has made it a focus of animal rights activists. Throughout history mink farmers have used selective breeding to try and develop a broad selection of fur colours, most of them unknown of in nature. These colours include white, brown, grey with tints of pink or blue and have exotic names such as sapphire, mahogany, gun metal, and lavender hope. The most coveted colour of pelt is black. Mink Jackets are obviously jackets made out of a minks’ fur. The mink is actually quite small and weighs about 2lbs so making an entire jacket out of mink can be very expensive. While genuine mink jackets aren’t for everyone, using the pelts to make clothing has long been very fashionable and is a sign of prosperity and social status.

There are many different types of clothing that can be made from mink fur. They range widely from theatrical full length coats to short mink jackets.  Mink strollers are quite popular and are an elegant coat made for stylish women out for a stroll. There are some coats that may use a combination of furs to accent different parts of the coat.

The value of mink jackets is based on a number of different factors. Furs that come from female minks are usually softer and lighter than those that come from a male mink. The best way to value genuine mink jackets is to take them to a professional appraiser. He will then value it on the quality of the fur, and on how well the jacket was made. A genuine, high quality, mink jacket can cost anywhere between £6,000 to £10,000 or, possibly more. It is possible to purchase a mink jacket for a few thousand pounds. But even if you manage to purchase one for a lower price it is still an expensive item.

Once a fine, luxurious item, mink jackets are no longer as favored as they once were. Changing fashions along with animal rights activism have decreased the popularity of these jackets. The worry of having an extreme animal rights activist ruin a very costly investment has stopped many people from buying a mink jacket. Buying a faux fur jacket is observed as a more politically correct choice.

Vintage Mink Jackets

Different from other fur clothing, mink jackets have never been worn just for cold weather. Mink fur is a sign of status, wealth, luxury and beauty. When mink first came into style it was worn by the upper class, film stars and aristocrats. Mink fur was first used by the Europeans, but more recently most mink furs are farmed in America. The attitude towards farming animals solely for their pelts has changed over time. This means that it is easier to find vintage mink jackets today than it is to find brand new ones. Also vintage mink jackets have a history, a story behind them. They could have belonged to wealthy movie stars or the social elite. Choosing to buy vintage mink jackets is not as easy as it may seem. There are many factors to consider when purchasing one. You’ll need to think about length, colour, quality, lining and storage. Real mink jackets need care and attention when stored. When deciding on a jacket, consider the quality of the fur carefully. It should be thick, shiny and brilliant. Mink fur that is dull may be the sign that it has been stored badly. It should be smooth and silky to the touch. If the skin of the fur hasn’t been dyed then the skin should be a beige colour. If the skin is darker then it is possibly quite an old vintage mink jacket. The label on the jacket will tell you if it has been dyed or not. The reverse of the leather should be smooth and the seams of the jacket should be intact. Discard jackets if the fur looks to be glued to the leather.

Vintage mink jackets come in a wide variety of colours. The most coveted colour of fur is black, as it holds a timeless elegance. The natural colours are white, black, brown, grey and beige. Though there were many coats that were dyed in vivid colours but these were more expensive. The country in which the coat was made is also a factor to consider when buying vintage mink jackets. Currently China produces great quality mink jackets. American jackets are much more expensive and are of a better quality, though the most expensive are ones that are made in Europe.