Ever wondered what the difference between wet tan and dry is? What about what makes sable such a valuable pelt? Perhaps you want to know what "guard hair" or "pluck & shear" mean. Mudry & Modern has compiled the most complete list to date of fur industry terms online to date, you'll be sure to find whatever you are looking for right here. If you still would like more information regarding something specific, email us, we'd be happy to help.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Beavers Sheared: soft, velvety texture, evenly sheared. Often dyed in new fashion colors. Very durable. Natural: Long, lustrous slate blue guard hairs and dark underfur.
Brightner added: a process that enhances the color of a fur.
Chinchilla: A short, dense soft fur with lustrous slate blueguard hairs and dark underfur.
Coyote: a long-haired fur, often pale gray or tan color, with thick, soft underfur, very durable fur.
Dyeing: Process of applying dye to create a new color. Dyeing is sometimes also used to correct any imperfections and to improve uniformity. Sometimes the pelt is bleached white before color is added.
Ermine: very silky white guard hairs and dense underfur.
Fitch: long guard hairs over light colored underfur. Color ranges from pale ecru to orange tones, with black markings.
Fox: the widest range of natural colors of any fur except mink. Long lustrous guard hairs with thick, soft underfur. Fox varieties include silver, cross, crystal, blue, red, gray and white. Can also be dyed in a wide variety of colors.
Guard Hair: Long, lustrous outer hair that protects the underfur.
Lamb: Broadtail - A natural flat moiré pattern. Natural colors include brown, black and gray. Often dyed in more exotic colors. Mongolian: Very long, wavy, silky guard hairs. Its natural color is off-white, but it is often dyed. Mouton: Pelts are sheared closely for a soft, thick, flat fur. Persian Lamb: from Karakul sheep raised in central Asia or Southwest Africa, fur features flat silky curls. Natural colors are black, brown and gray. Shearling: natural lamb pelts with the leather side sueded or leatherized and worn on the outside with the fur on the inside.
Leathering: Insertion of ribbon, cloth or leather strips along with fur strips. May be done for fashion or to lighten the weight of the fur
Letting out: cutting the pelt in diagonal strips and resewing it to make the pelt longer and narrower. Sometimes referred to as dropped out. The effect is supple and smooth flowing.
Lynx: Canadian Lynx: Displays creamy white tones with characteristic darker markings. Russian Lynx - the whitest and softest of this very long-haired fur with very subtle beige markings. The whiter the fur, the higher the value.
Marten: AmericanL long silky guard hairs and dense underfur. Color ranges from blue-brown to dark brown.
Mink: Soft and lightweight with lustrous guard hairs and dense, soft underfur. Primarily farm-raised, mink remains the most popular fur. Female pelts are smaller in size and have a softer, silkier feel than larger male pelts. Mink can be dyed a wide range of colors and may be sheared for a sporty, casual look. Very durable fur.
Muskrat: Fur is full and thick with black tripes and pale beige sides. Often sheared for a sporty, lightweight feel.
Mutation: Natural furs of special colors that are produced by selective breeding.
New Jersey: Lighter in weight with constrasting colors.
Northern: strong, longer guard hairs and heavy, thick underfur. Often worked skin-on-skin. Southern: Flatter with little underfur, usually pale in color.
Nutria: Similar to beaver, it is often sheared for a sporty, more lightweight feel. Underfur is very soft and plush. A popular fur for linings and trims, it is frequently dyed in a variety of colors.
Oppossum: American: long, silvery black-tipped guard hairs with thick underfur. Australian: short, dense, plush-like fur, with colors ranging from yellow-gray to natural brown.
Plucking: to emphasize the velvet underhair of the fur. All guard hairs are plucked before shearing.
Raccoon: Long, thick tan guard hairs with black tips and dense underfur.
Sable: long, luxurious guard hairs with dense underfur, yet very lightweight. Russian sable: Brown with silver cast, it is the most expensive fur, especially when there is an abundance of silver hairs. Canadian golden sable: In amber tones, somewhat less expensive. Very durable.
Shearing: cutting fur to a short, uniform pie.
Shearling: natural lamb pelts with the leather side often sueded and worn on the outside.
Skin-on-skin: rectangular pelts are sewn together to create a box effect as an alternative to the letting out process.
Squirrel: Generally medium length guard hairs in a variety of natural colors. Often sheared or grooved. Not very durable fur, it sheds easily.
Tanuki: Also called Japanese raccoon with very long guard hairs and a full texture. Color is light amber brown with dark, distinctive markings.
Tip-dyeing: Sometimes called blending. Dye is applied only to the tips of guard hairs to produce more color uniformity.
Underfur: the underhair covered by guard hairs. This is the layer of fur that acts as insulation to provide warmth.
Weasel: Similar look to mink, with short guard hairs and semi-dense underfur.
