The Shalumov - Mary Belle 2010 collection is coming and as usual Mink fur coats are king. These Russian Fur Coats are all about quality and we would like to take the time to coach you through your choices whether you purchase here or somewhere else. For more than 100 years women’s mink fur coats have been a status and glamour symbol thanks to the likes of Garbo, Monroe, Dietrich and Crawford. A woman’s first fur coat is always mink fur and these classy Russian furs come in some very special natural and treated versions made with some pretty secretive techniques. These designers don’t think of womens mink fur in the same way the furriers of your grandparent’s era. Designers today are taught to think of fur (including mink) as just another fashion textile and perform amazing technological feats with it, including knitting, dyeing brilliant colors, tanning its leather side so it doesn’t need a lining, reversing it like shearling, perforating patterns in it to look like lace, and even using burn-out techniques to make it look like velvet.
When shopping out a mink fur don’t just go to a department store where the majority except for Nieman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman lease out their fur sections and are basically run by the same fur producers. There will not be much variation in a women’s mink fur coat from one of these stores to the next. Go to independently owned stores some of whom still bear their family names. Here is where Lux Fur Clothing excels as we bring you the finest mink fur coats and mink jackets in the world from a family dynasty that made furs for the Czars; 150 years worth of tried and true methods added to the latest technological methods of treating fur. The results as you will see in our 2010 mink fur collection are enchanting.
Country of origin should be displayed on the hang tag of the fur garment. If it is not, then move on. Mink farming was started originally in the United States but the majority of mink comes from the Scandinavian Countries so expect to see a SAGA label a bit more often than American Legend like BLACK GLAMA. Please visit our fur quality page to see all the different labels German Shalumov and Mary Belle use. No they do not use Russian pelts but they attend the top auctions world -wide for the best. These labels offer an endorsement of quality and so command a higher price. Where was the fur garment manufactured? This information is also required by law to be on the hangtag. Most furs are made in China today. North American made furs cost more, and European furs are even pricier. All Shalumov and Mary Belle mink fur coats and mink fur jackets are handmade in Moscow, Russia. A quality mink coat can cost from 10,000 to 50,000 dollars but no matter what price range, make sure you choose the one that you have absolutely fallen in love with. It will serve you for many years with the correct care.
Shalumov travels the world after exotic lining materials for his own personal designer collections and uses these and only these for his fur coats and fur accessories. His linings come from all over Europe and Africa; France, Italy, and Morocco. He goes to markets of fabrics hardly known and very rare. A sort of Indiana Jones of designers; he ventures into dark alleys and mysterious North African locations not for the faint hearted. He is driven to discover the most unusual and extraordinary. He buys direct for himself and as you will see the treasures he brings home are absolutely magnificent.
SHALUMOV THE PERFECTIONIST:
Every fur coat is perfected not just outside but inside. The lining is hand sewn to a specified and constantly monitored fineness. Shalumov is a designer who is “hands on”. He personally inspects the quality of work and specifications for stitching. He admits he is a bit of a task master in this area so as to avoid the Russian euphemism of having to be “red faced later”. He personally pays very strict attention to quality in all steps of fur production. In addition he insists on adding lace, precious stones, embroidery, fastening bows and button detail only by hand. His fur coats are built to such high standards and are so very unique in design that he maintains his creations are impossible to reproduce.Herman is adamant about his buyers knowing that all his fur coats are made from complete, whole, perfect pelts from backs only and that he never uses left over pieces, bellies or legs. Even the belts for fur coats are made from the same high quality pelts as the fur coats and not left over cuttings.
An eye popping runway show in the middle of Moscow at “Club Opera“announced the opening of Shalumov’s newest boutique. The air was electric with the nonstop action. Beautiful Amazon like bellicose girls pranced about in exotic Shalumov fur creations while acting out the aggressive sensuality of the viking barbarian theme. Shalumov’s clients and shopping elite turned out in huge numbers anticipating a look see at the rarest and most expensive furs in the world. Russian fur fashion invokes passion. Not only the models but the runway itself ran deep in exotics like mink BLACK NAFA®; fur mink, fox, chinchilla and Namibian broadtail Swakara from KOPENHAGEN FUR (labels Kopenhagen Purple®, Kopenhagen Platinum® and Kopenhagen Burgundy®; SAGA Royal Mink® and SAGA Royal Fox® from Finnish Fur Sales; legendary mink Blackglama® from American Legend, beaver and marten Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs™ from North American Fur Auctions. As usual the walk way glittered and sparkled with honorary celebrity appearances like “Shpilki” and Elena Knyazeva. The coup d’état came when the designer German Shalumov himself escorted the enchanting Sabrina to the runway. For the break during model’s hair dressing Shalumov added a relaxing wine tasting session from his personal collection and an unusual assortment of fine antique literature for the designated drivers. There was also a bit of a secret – an enticing locked doorway to a VIP fur room in which was hidden an “over the top” luxury fur collection. A gold key access was given to a few of Shalumov’s friends and a select few elite clients!
How do I order an exclusive designer fur coat or fur bedspread online.
Thanks to e-commerce anyone seeking exclusive, chic and high quality fashion garments have at their finger tips access to the best of the best designer’s in Europe. The thought of spending thousands for a custom made designer fur coat from a website may stretch the nerves unless a few simple guidelines are followed.
Familiarize yourself with your designers and their work. Take time to learn all you can about them. A quality web site and its blogs should be dedicated to their story and their work. It will be full of information that should make you feel like you know them and positive that their reputation and desire to please is ongoing, top level and just what you expect.
Pick up the phone! Get to know the designer: Ask to speak personally to them no matter what country or location. This should never be an issue with him/her since to please is to communicate to the finest point. Translators should be available though English is pretty much universal in the fashion world, especially fur fashion.
Be very sure of quality and price range: A top designer will need to know how much you are planning to spend and because pelts come in various levels of quality and color be sure of what is available to you and at what price. Depending on type and quality, pelt selection may be time consuming in itself. Pelt matching can become laborious if the fur type is rare and thousands must be examined to get the match right. The following is our initial response to an individual asking about a sable fur bed spread.
“In answer to your question, I spoke personally to the designer German Shalumov in Russia. The price of a sable fur bedspread 1.5 meters by 2 meters depends on the level of the sable fur and color variation value. To determine which level you prefer please refer to our sable fur information published in our BLOG. Please indicate your acceptable price range and our designer will submit the best possible level of pelts in that range and the exact price. Generally speaking prices start with level 1 at $50,000, and go through midrange at $175,000 and up to the highest level 7 to $400,000. We hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have any other questions”.
Personal contact and service is key in all fur purchases and should be graciously welcomed by the marketer and the designer.
High resolution digital photos can be provided if requested for your personal project before and during the production.
If you speak Russian you’ve got it made. They make the best and are the largest fur coat market in the world. German Shalumov and Mary Belle fashion houses have been doing this here for over a 140 years.
Alexander Vasiliev is a fashion historian, author of more than 20 bestsellers in the history of fashion, a well known collector of vintage clothing and a theatrical designer. At one time he was the Paris correspondent for Vogue Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. 25 years living in Paris, Vasiliev has been called the guru of Russian Fashion.
Once every generation or two very special and very gifted people come along with passions for that which seems unusual to the common stream. These are the artists, the designers, and if they have the courage to fulfill their calling, the trend setters. Alexander Vasiliev, guru of Russian fashion is one of these. He is a flamboyant and entertaining observer and guardian of feminine fashion standards not only in Russia but the world. As you will see in this video he celebrates the finer things of fashion and design with the sensitivity of one who has dedicated his life to gently guiding the beautiful women of the world along the path of artful appreciation and etiquette. He has also made it his mission to mentor those others, the younger gifted ones to take up a similar banner. German Shalumov, our featured designer has been mentored by this wonderful man and German graduated from Alexander Vasiliev’s School of Design in Rome Italy. German of course comes from a dynasty of very special fur fashion designers and has been guided all his life by fur folk, not the least of whom was his mother Mary Shalumova, who started him in the family business at age 13 producing fine Russian sable fur and mink coats. It is very apparent as you peruse the beautiful fur creations at Lux Fur Clothingthat German Shalumov has the same refined sensitivity as Vasiliev. German does not produce the average mink coat!
Not so long ago a mink coat was a real luxury and not every woman could have one. Movie stars wrapped themselves in a mink mantle on the big screen and were the envy of millions of women. According to some sources it is believed that mink breeding began in the late 19th century in America. In the 40’s the first farms appeared in Scandinavia. Both these countries are considered the leading mink suppliers. Mink fashions began in the 30’s thanks to the Hollywood influence….It is hard to imagine Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich without a mink fur at their shoulders. Designers began to experiment with mink in the 1960’s to keep this fur at the peak of fashion popularity. Mink jackets, vests, dresses and skirts embroidered with precious metal rings ornaments and fixtures first appeared in the collection of Paco Rabanne. In the 80’s multicolored capes, wraps and mantles of mink were worn by the wealthiest of ladies.
This Russian Basque style white mink fur jacket comes to you from fashion fur designer German Shalumov in shaved or sheared mink with an eye catching and cheerful floral lined sash comes in following colors:
mink white fur
mink black fur
striped zebrano with exotic gold or silver brocade lined sash
Mink has reemerged as a symbol of status, femininity, and security. A woman wrapped in a lush mink feels safe and separated from the trials and craziness of this hectic world. Wrapping in a mink is as taking on the majesty of a queen. Your position is secure whether on a long flight home or a formal event filled evening. Now the real status of a mink coat is not just the quality of the fur but the identity of the particular fashion designer who created it. Shalumov is one of the few around the world who is qualified to work in the finest of this “soft gold” and whose designs are world renowned and avant-garde. Never buy mink in mass markets where short cuts and time saving techniques cause many problems with quality. A Shalumov coat sometimes takes months just to match the right pelts. If you try to save dollars buying from stock without brand and designer names you risk getting a garment that is made from old and fragile pelts with bad cuts and patterns. When you have experienced the feel of a high quality fur you will immediately be able to distinguish between the elite and the cheap. A real quality fur garment will give you years of service and reward you for the higher price many times over.
Famous artists, poets, performers and celebrities from around Russia recognize German Shalumov as the go to designer for the ultimate in quality fur garments and design. Note the majestic snow white fur coat in the video below worn by Lolita Milyavskaya famous big screen celebrity in Russia.
She is a star, she is a ballet diva, she is a beauty, and she is one of the most well-known dancers of the modern time. Prima-donna of Bolshoi Theatre, ballerina and solo-performer. The calling of her life is dancing and she devoted it to the ballet and theatre. Journalists and reporters are chasing her — she is always at the top-positions of any popularity ratings. She is a hero of numerous rumors, gossips and even scandals. Her concerts and performances are always sold out. Her name is Anastasia Volochkova and you could barely find a man who has never heard of her. (The Unofficial Anastasia Volochkova Website) “Soft gold” a fresh line of fur accessories presented at the Cocon Club by Shalumov for his winter 2007 collection included a parade of some of his most beautiful and exotic creations like this magnificent broadtail lamb coat worn and walked by Prima-donna of the Bolshoi Theatre and ballet diva Anastasia Volochkova. Please notice how this sleek naturally sculpted lamb fur coat takes on the stage lighting in a chameleon like manner reflecting brilliant golds, silvers and coppers! Yours will do the same dancing and sparkling under city lights gushing with feminine delights. Take a shot of the expanded version for the detail on this models description page. This luscious womens lamb coat exudes majesty. Anastasia’s grace beauty and character compliments this coat perfectly. German Shalumov enlisted many celebrities to model his creations and they were more than happy to contribute! Anastasia Volochkova is famous the world over in modern times having performed all over Europe, Asia, and the USA. Please enjoy this powerful video!
The world market nick name for fur products is “soft gold”. Expensive pelts throughout time were considered treasures rare and scarce. Historically sables were not counted by the thousands as say pelts of mink in modern auctions but by the tens. Every sable fur coat is a treasure or jewel. The dream of any Russian hunter out for a day of rabbit or fox hunting was to bring home a real sable. It is difficult to describe Russian sable fur in words: almost weightless, silky, satin like, lustrous, sparkling, glistening, incredibly beautiful. In addition it is very warm and durable. One more characteristic that creates value in this particular fur is its rarity. In a word it is a gem.
There was a famous Russian story ”Journey Over The Three Seas” about a traveling merchant from Novgorod named Afanasiy Nikitin who was robbed by bandits and lost everything. Miraculously he managed to hide one sable fur pelt. This one pelt was enough to trade for a priceless Arabian horse which provided his swift and much needed transport to India. A sable pelt for a horse!! Wow! Today no one would trade a horse for a sable fur pelt but on the world market a fine sable fur pelt trades for a minimum of $2,000 and can go as high as $5,000 for a rare pelt.
Russian sable fur has a wide range of color variations - from yellow sand to dark black. The darkest sables have always been the most valuable. There are seven groups of color variations for sable fur. Each of these is divided into gradations from darkest to lightest.
1. High head: Darkest – dark blue – pelts of this color are highest in value
2. Normal head : blackish brown to dark blue
3. High underhead: less dark tones – from dark brownish blue fur at the roots to dark chestnut (maroon) at ends
4. Normal underhead: dark chestnut (maroon) blue fur at roots to maroon at ends
5. Dark collared: maroon blue roots to light chestnut at the ends
6. Normal collared: light chestnut blue fur from root to yellow sand at ends
7. Furry sable: all the rest of the colors not lighter than Normal collard, usually sandy yellow tones
In light toned pelts the neck is very light. In some dark pelts the neck is also light colored. Furry sable is the lightest and least expensive. These furs were used in earlier times for linings and not noted for use in crating expensive garments and trim. The classifications Furry sable and Normal collared are sometimes upgraded by coloring. Summer season sable fur pelts are darker than winter pelts because the under fur diminishes as temperatures increase. For current market purposes the breakdown of fur color has been simplified to 4 levels:
1. Both high head and high underhead
2. Underhead normal
3. Collared dark
4. Collared normal and furry
You will notice the color coding scheme is made so that a sable fur pelt will always fall into one of the above levels.
Ok…while we’re talking about swakara please ogle this so very cool and sleek fur lamb women’s bolero jacket from coal black Namibian. Take the close-up off our website. The fine texture and bold swirls tell you why this fur lamb is so sought after. Both Mary Belleand German Shalumov know exactly how to build their royal heritage into any style fur garment and this chic little fur lamb jacket piped and outlined with real durable leather and adorned with designer selected collector buttons from strange and exotic locations takes on a majestic character all its own. Pop up the collar but show those hard earned abs! You must have this! Swakara and karakul is so very versatile and varied in color that Lux Fur Clothing can claim access to a vast supply of tantalizing designs that are sure to satisfy the most discriminating.
Types and Color Variations of Karakul and Karaculcha:
• Namibian (South Africa) - black (Swakara), white, beige, chocolate
• Afghan (Afghanistan) - black, gold sand, antique, platinum, grey, coral, bronze
• Uzbek (Uzbekistan) - brown tones, golden fleece, black, grey tones, gold.
The women’s lamb fur coat of karakul, karakulcha or swakara is an incredibly versatile fur type, an absolutely gorgeous creation with color variations from white to metallics of bronze and copper to black and everything in between with swirling conical shapes to marbled patterns. That’s a mouthful! That description only touches the surface of a fur that has been available for centuries of coat making and with lamb by Mary Belle and GermanShalumov the possibilities are limitless. The reversible copper lamb coat by Shalumov showcases some of this versatility. A stylishly lined long leather rain coat reversed becomes just pure chic and style. Light and resilient karakul is warm and unaffected by cold and moisture.
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