The Highly Sought After Chinchilla Fur

The chinchilla pelt has been used as a means of warmth for mankind sine the sixteenth century. It is originally native to the Andes Mountains located in South America. The chinchilla in the wild has been met with near extinction due to its popularity in the manufacture of fur coats. Presently the chinchilla is farmed and bred for a number of purposes.

The fur of the chinchilla has been used as a lining in wearable items or a large garment can be constructed in its entirety from the pelt. There are two different types of chinchilla, the brevicaudata and the lanigera. There is little difference between the two with the latter being the more extinct in the wild, but farming of the chinchilla comes from the lanigera variety.

The chinchilla is superior in its ability to keep man warm and free from the harsh elements of Mother Nature. This has been known for centuries and has always been prized in early fur trading.

A fur coat made of chinchilla is surprisingly lightweight. The color is uniform and the length is usually in the area of one inch. The great warmth is due to the fact that up to one hundred and sixty hairs will sprout from one follicle. Add to this the fact that the fur is hypoallergenic and you have a product that is in high demand.

The number of pelts required to make just one fur coat is approximately one hundred and fifty pelts because the chinchilla is such a small rodent. Hunting in the wild is forbidden, so the breeding farms are the only source of pelts. This makes the coats more costly and there have been some unscrupulous furriers that have dyed rabbit to resemble the chinchilla and sold it as the genuine article. Use caution when purchasing chinchilla and make sure you are getting genuine fur.

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