Blue Fox
This vintage fox fur is material I’ve used on many handmade purses. The fur is vintage and has a lovely antique charm.
Backstory
A few years ago I bought two antique fur stoles at a neighbor’s garage sale. My neighbor said that they belonged to her grandmother and that they were mink. I had the idea to sew them into a coat or something, but nothing ever came of it.
Recently, I decided to open an Etsy store to sell rabbit fur purses and other handmade items. It was then that I remembered the stoles and decided to make cute purses out of them.
The first thing I did was take apart the stoles, separating the fur from the cotton stuffing and satin lining.
By looking at them, even at purchase, I could tell they were different types of fur. I imagined one was mink, and the other something else. Upon ripping open the seams, I found out the truth.
One was stamped with Sable. And the other with Blue Fox. Both were stamped by their respective dyeing company.
You’ve probably noticed that this is not blue, nor is there blue foxes running around town. A quick internet search revealed that blue fox fur is white in color, making it a popular fur for dyeing. I also read that this fur is mostly farmed. Since this is antique fur that the owner didn’t even know what animal it came from, I have no way of knowing whether it was farmed or not.
Fur Ethics
Let me go ahead and say that I do not agree with hunting or farming animals for fur. I do believe it is ok as a by product from food production, when it would otherwise be considered waste.
My goal is to upcycle these furs into something useful. Fur is luxurious and working with it as a material feels like being part of something special and sacred.
There’s a really good website on how fur is a “green” and sustainable material put on by the Fur Council of Canada. Here is the link:
Sewing with Fox Fur
Cut fur from the back with tiny snips. This reduces hair loss and keeps the cut looking natural. I use both machine and hand stitching to make the purses.
Check out this purse tutorial to see the finished product!
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