How To Care For Your Fur Coat
republished by Pologeorgis with updated info for fur storage
UPDATED Pologeorgis now has a location in Greenwich CT at 25 Lewis Street. Located just off Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich CT. Convenient drop off for summer fur cold storage for Westchester and Fairfield Counties. (Greenwich, Stamford, Westport, Darien). Best Cold Storage in NYC per
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Note; All fur garments and shearlings are stored in a temperature controlled and secure vault which is on premises in NYC. Pologeorgis has the largest cold fur storage facility in New York City
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It's officially spring, and as such, it is also spring cleaning meaning it's time to get organized and put all your winter things into storage. Fur garments in particular, are items that need extra attention as the weather gets warmer. But there's more to understanding fur maintenance than just putting into cold storage. Here are fur care tips from fur industry expert Nick Pologeorgis
Nick Pologeorgis, of Pologeorgis Atelier and Showroom in New York City, sat down with Forbes Life to discuss how to care for fur, which furs are the most durable and what to do with that old fur you inherited from your grandmother. Pologeorgis Atelier and Showroom has been family run since it was opened by Stanley Pologeorgis in 1960. Since then Pologeorgis has collaborated and partnered with brands like Pierre Balmain, Zandra Rhodes and Michael Kors and has been worn by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna.
Emma Sandler: When it comes to fur, are there any misconceptions people have?
Nick Pologeorgis: There aren't really misconceptions, but more that people just don't know. They don't know that fur and leather are hurt by heat and if fur gets wet it can be damaged -- if it gets really soaked. Especially the heat part Sometimes people don't want to put fur into storage...or they'll put it in the basement where it moist and humid and the fur can get very dry that way. You have to protect your valued fur
Sandler: When should someone put their fur items into cold storage?
Nick Pologeorgis: Well, we live in a couple different worlds within New York. Manhattan has less space, so essentially people bring it in right after they are done wearing the mink which is around April. Whenever it starts to get warm really. We keep it at 50 to 55 degrees [Fahrenheit], because the cooler it is the longer the fur or leather will stay in good condition
We charge [about] $95 for the season and we pick up and we deliver. The season would from around April 15 to October 15. It could be a little less or little longer, but give or take, it's six months.
Sandler: Is there any difference between furs and leather in regards to the different types?
Nick Pologeorgis: Mink is very durable, and sable is also very durable, believe it or not. The weakest fur is the chinchilla...there isn't much different with fur colors either, although white fur oxidizes quickly. So everything oxidizes in the world Whites start to get yellow and a black [fur] will start to get browner over time.
So what should you do if you have a white fur? (White MInk or White Fox how to keep white expert tips)
Nick Pologeorgis: You should keep it covered. Keep it in your closet and have some kind of natural fiber, breathable bag over it. Not a plastic bag! Because it gets very hot inside those bags. you want the air to get through so it's not so dry. You can even take a sheet from your bed and cover a fur if you really want to. But really, the light will oxidize a coat. Sometimes we can brighten them. There are people who can put a whitening on top of the fur and brighten it again, or you can top-dye a fur black or dark brown.
Sandler: Can you repair fur?
Nick Pologeorgis: Yes, you can repair them. The good thing about fur is that with the hair on the outside...everything can be repaired and the seams are hidden most of the time. So even when we do alterations, it's very hard to see Pologeorgis has seamstresses on hand who are experts in repairing all types of furs. Fur repair, Mink repair, Sable repair, fox repairs and shearling repair,.
Fur Cleaning and Shearling Garment Cleaning Tips -
But you don't dry clean fur. You have to be careful. For something where this is fur trim, you go to what would be an expensive dry cleaner who knows how to take off the fur, dry clean the fabric, and then put the fur back on. Or otherwise, you can come to a place like ours and we'll have the fur taken off and then you can get it dry cleaned and we'll sew it back on.
Sandler: If someone has an old fur coat or inherits one, what are some things they can do to restyle it to suit them? Tips for Vintage Fur. (vintage mink, vintage fox, vintage sable)
Nick Pologeorgis: Fur is very sustainable. You can wear it, then give it to your daughter or your granddaughter and in the end, it could end up being a pillow, a throw [blanket], a collar -- you can basically use it forever. You're not wasting it. We make a lot of pillows because at some point a fur as a garment just will not work. It will be too weak so you can make it into a pillow because it doesn't get the same wear and tear as a garment. Fur is biodegradable in a landfill.
We had a customer recently who had a beautiful coat from years ago, and she wanted a new one and also has a niece. So we took it apart and made different things for both her and her niece . And they were so happy, and they loved the idea that she could take this old coat and after 30 years of having it, and make something new. And I have to say, I looked at it and I couldn't tell it was a remodel.
I write about fashion and design. Previously contributed to Forbes Technology section. Graduate from Northwestern University in Illinois. Questions, comments or pitches? Please send to...