Q1: In tight economic times, you wouldn’t think about buying a fur coat, yet you’re suggesting there’s a way to achieve this economically.
If you have an old coat hanging around (or maybe your mother does), you wouldn’t believe what the furriers can do these days. You can trade in and trade up: mink, beaver, raccoon and fox can all be sheared, dyed, carved, grooved and re-modeled. Shearing makes it much, much lighter. Re-modeling can take it right up to date, and dying can take it anywhere you want.
The heart of the fur industry has been here as long as Canada has been here.
Q2: We’re seeing more fashion with fur trim, is this a trend?
Fur is fashion nowadays. Look around at the clothing scene and you will see that fur is everywhere. It crept onto the cuffs and collars of coats, then onto sweaters and on capes.
According to Steve Zuckerman of Jean Crisan Furs and Vice President of the Fur Council of Canada, the council has been instrumental in modernizing the Canadian Fur Industry and blending it right into our fashion industry. One of their initiatives was to bring in Richard Hochmann from Paris for the past five years in order for him to give seminars on concepts such as the fusing of fur and fashion to body shapes and runway styles.
Q3: If we really aren’t a fur coat kind of guy or girl, is there anything else we might shop there for?
Perhaps you think you can’t afford one but wiith the fur manufacturers right here, it means that you can shop wholesale. Hats, shawls, scarves, boleros, vests, purses, reversible jackets or coats, shearling and even blankets and stuffed animals are made by this creative people..
Q4: Who are the manufacturing furriers still around in Montreal?
Fourrure Dubarry Furs, 206 St. Paul St. Ouest at St-Francois-Xavier. Phone: 514-844-7483. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p..m. and by appointment. This 30-year-old shop, now in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves. Ready to wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim, and coats are all available here along with some leather clothing and lots of sheepskin jackets. Services also include remodeling, repairs, cleaning and storage. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat. www.dubarryfurs.com
Jean Crisan Furs, 416 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Suite 801 at the corner of City Councillors St. Phone: 514-288-4843. Hours: by appointment. This high-end fur company, open since 1986, aims to sell to fashion trend followers, with sporty furs featuring funky textures and colors created by designer Minos. Their one-of-a-kind 3D surfaces in carved, laser grooved beaver, lynx and mink appeal to some, their classic silhouettes appeal to others and some may want just a fur-trimmed winter coat. You might come across edgy modern neck art, wraps and scarves with taffetas, mohair, etc. in combination with luxurious mink. Come here before they send it off to Neiman Marcus or Saks. www.jeancrisan.com
Fourrures Harris/Wolanski/Maurice Kaplan Furs, 398 Boul. de Maisonneuve ouest. Phone: 514- 288-9646 or 514-849-8793 or 514-849-3801. Hours: Monday to Friday 9-5, Sat 9-1 and Sunday by appointment. For half a century, these companies have been making and remodeling fur coats (even carving and grooving sheared mink and beaver). They have extended their usual repertoire to include fur-lined raincoats or leather coats (use your old fur for a removable lining), cashmere capes, trimmed ponchos, shearling, fur scarves, sheepskin, Swakara lamb jackets. You can trade in your old coat and/or bring a picture for them to make a new one. Repairs and storage is also available.
Les Fourrures Freres Kazamias Fur Bros., 400 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, in the lobby at Bleury St. Phone: 514-845-4067. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-2. In what is left of the fur buildings downtown, this wholesaler is open to the public. Sometimes called House of Sable, this furrier also sells chinchilla, mink and sheared beaver in many colors. There’s also lightweight shearling, Toscana lamb, scarves, headbands and laser designed models.
