Fabulous possum fur features

Possum fur feels like springy silk velvet to touch. It is unbelievably soft and silky.

New Zealand possum fur is a short to medium length (2-4cm) plush type fur, with a dense cushioned undercoat. New Zealand possum fur is completely different from the fur of the American Opossum.

Possum fur doesn't shed like other furs and is anti-static.

 

It is strong so you won’t be covered in hair every time you lean on your fabulous possum fur cushion, bed blanket or sofa throw.

New Zealand possum fur is considered durable so if it is well looked after and correctly cleaned and stored when not in use it can last up to 10 years or longer.

Possum fur is very warm; in fact they say it is the third warmest fur in the world after polar bear and Arctic fox because of its hollow hair structure that traps warmth like a thermos. And just like polar bear hair, it is the hallow hair structure that does not allow possum fur to freeze, even when exposed to extreme cold. Possum fur is said to be 14% lighter and 8% warmer than wool.




When blended with merino wool it makes a divine natural fibre that is soft and comfortable and used to make all kinds of wonderful knitted clothing and fashion accessories.

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The ancient craft of the furrier

The art of the furrier, who is a craftsman and artisan who works with fur, is a very specialised and ancient craft. There are only a handful of people in New Zealand who are experienced and qualified in this very old tradition.

Our Gorgeous Creatures furrier is a second generation furrier who learned his trade from his father in England over 25 years ago with a heritage of luxury craftsmanship. He is a Master Furrier who knows how to work professionally with possum fur to achieve a quality heirloom product that will stand the test of time. All our possum fur products are made in New Zealand.

Because of our furriers’ skills and experience we can customise your possum interior décor fur throw, blanket, cushions or anything else you can think of to make from possum fur as long as the fur is suitable for the use that you imagine.

Mink is the undisputed King of fur for use as a coat and other clothing items, and possum is the King of interior decor because it has the necessary strength and durability and is very cost effective when compared with other real furs.

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Responsible, Eco-Friendly, Renewable, Recyclable and Biodegradable

There was a lot of propaganda, protest and controversy about fur in the late 1980's, since then the fur trade has as grown up, the industry has become more responsible, technology and animal welfare has improved and as long fur comes from a reputable supplier from a responsible country it is not much different than beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, milk and wool that people grow as a natural resource for human use.

We are not an unbiased voice but we feel that there is plenty of propaganda available online speaking against the fur industry and very little positive response in support of the fur industry. There is always two sides to any story. It simply does not make any sense for a fur farmer to treat his animals badly. It is in his best interest for the animals to be healthy.

**Please note that Gorgeous Creatures possum fur is not farmed but a wild by-product of the effort to save the native forest and birds.

The British Fur Trade Association has launched a new fur industry initiative designed to promote transparency of product origin called Origin Assured. “When consumers see the OA™ label they can be certain that, wild or farmed, the fur comes from a country where national or local regulations or standards governing fur production are in force. OA™ labels can only be used on items which are 100% Origin Assured fur.” The initiative is currently focused mainly on the clothing industry and only certain countries and species qualify for the OA™ mark at the moment. New Zealand and New Zealand possums have not yet been included in this qualification but we hope that it may be included in the near future.

If you are interested in the real story of European fur farming we recommend that you view the brief movies in this interesting video library which shows the responsible side of the farmed Mink fur industry in Denmark.

Unlike artificial furs, real fur can last for many decades if well looked after, can be recycled, restyled, and comes from a renewable resource. Fur is also biodegradable.