Banner Sponsors

sarahjane Oct 26, 2006

I have a friend whose mother made her a real fur bear a number of years ago....The bear has recently started shedding its hair, is there anything she can do to try and stop this and does anyone have any idea what may have caused it after so long??   

I know she'd hate to lose this bear as it is quite sentimental to her. 

StarHawk2003 Oct 26, 2006

Going on coat style, I was always told to keep them out of direct sunlight for long periods of time and in the cool, I know the heat can cause them to shed.

Richy~

Judi Oct 26, 2006

Sarah, I have worked with real fur for years and have experienced shedding on furs that are older.  Some shedding is normal, especailly furs like rabbit.  Mink fur should not shed very much at all.
If the leather hide dries out then the hair/fur follicles will come loose and then fall out.  Leather over time will dry out.  This is happens faster if the coat was not stored properly( needs cool dry storage in summer) or was exposed to heat and lots of direct sunlight.

Once the fur is used on a bear there is nothing you can do to the leather hide but you should keep the bear in a cool dry place and definitly out of direct sunlight.

  Maybe you coudl contact a professional furrier and see what they may suggest.  It can;' hurt.

There are things you can do before making a bear from real fur.  I always prefer to work with supple leather backed fur.  I have seen some fur collars and coats that are so fragile they tear upon handling.  I stay away from furs in poor condition....however...in the case where a fur coat has sentimental value and may be in poor condition you can apply a leather conditioner.  Some people use gylcerin.