Is That Fur Real or Fake?

Here's a few quick tests you can do whether it‘s for a fur throw or a fur coat to help you determine a fake fur from a real fur.

The Feel Test: Feel the difference by rolling the hairs between the finger and thumb.
Genuine Fur: Feels smooth and soft, easily rolls between the fingers.
Fake Fur: Feels coarse.

The Look Test: Blow on the hairs so that they divide, and look at the base.
Genuine Fur: Often made up of several layers of thin, almost curly hairs that form a dense under-wool through which the longer hairs stick out. The hairs remain attached to the leather (skin).
Fake Fur: Simpler in structure, individual hairs are often the same length and are even in color.

The Backing Test: Open up a seam in the lining just an inch or so to look at or poke a finger inside to check the back of the fur.
Genuine Fur: Looks and feels like smooth suede leather and will often be sewn together in strips like a patchwork quilt.
Fake Fur: Looks like uniformed, ribbed fabric or looks like little rows like a knitted sweater.

The Pin Test: Push a straight pin through the base where the fur is attached.
Genuine Fur: The leather resists; pin is hard to push through the skin.
Fake Fur: Pin goes easily through the base.

The Burn Test: Carefully clip or pull a few hairs from the fur and hold them to a flame to see how they burn and smell.
Genuine Fur: Singes; difficult to light, crinkles up very fast like human hair and burns into a fine ash. Smells like burnt hair.
Fake Fur: Lights easily and burns down very quickly. Melts into a clump or forms small plastic balls at the ends that feel hard when rolled between the finger and thumb and smells like burnt plastic.