J. Mendel

J. Mendel was founded in 1870's in St. Petersburg and is now under the direction of Gilles Mendel, fifth generation in the family. Since he joined in 1981, the house has grown to become a luxury fashion house renown not only by its fur but its ball-like gowns, present in every red  carpet around the world. 

The fur in J.Mendel is classic and luxurious. They work with the best quality and their finishings are impeccable. Their designs are not deeply innovative, but they represent the best in each of its garment and when something reaches the stores it is after a long process. The craftsmanship and care of each product translate in timeless pieces with a vintage feeling that will transform you in Russian Royalty every time you wear it.

Loro Piana

Loro Piana mink and baby cashmere vest via loropiana.com

The thing I love the most about Loro Piana is its understated concept and way to approach high luxury. When I think about Loro Piana I do not think in high fashion, but proper luxury. Cherished fabrics and processes are the trademark of Loro Piana, and as a result, cherished luxury products. You just cannot go wrong with Loro Piana. 

The fur is not its core product, but the few appearances in its collections are of high quality materials and designs. It is common to find mink as an insert in its coats or as best, like the picture above. I did not want to put a picture of the product but that drawing as a way of showing what that "cherished product" mean. That drawing comes from its website and it is a great example of how Loro Piana approaches high luxury.

Loro Piana is originally from Trivero (north Italy) and he started his company in 1924 in Quarona after many years working as a merchant for wool. Nowadays Loro Piana is part of LVMH and its products are sold all around the world. Loro Piana is well known in fashion as the forefather of the use of Vicuña fleece, originally from Los Andes. Loro Piana has protected its productions to the extend of creating a nature reserve in 2008 in Peru. 

I do not want to extend myself too much because I could be writing about Loro Piana forever and this is a blog about fur! I encourage and recommend to everybody to visit loropiana.com for more information and to enjoy the passion and respect for its products. 

Lilly e Violetta

Lilly e Violetta fox jacket via lillyevioletta.com

Lilly e Violetta was born in 2013 in Italy and they aim to keep the craftsmanship and traditional values normally added to the fur industry. The twist and uniqueness come from from their British influence "fusing the best of Italian glamour with modern British style". The truth is that the designs by Lilly e Violetta are full of light and romance but with a sexy touch. Like the girl who hides her best traits under the beauty and grace. 

I first came across Lilly e Violetta in Olivia Palermo's blog and since then I have wanted to know more. I have seen its designs in some blogs and department stores but I want to know more! The quality is obvious and the interest in offering a new product and keep innovating in such an old industry is key in their collections. They work with lynx, mink, sable, chinchilla, fox... I really hope they do well, I am already a fan! 

Do you know more about Lilly e Violetta? Please email me and tell me all about it! ilovemyfur@gmail.com

Moncler

Moncler Gamme Rouge Campaign

Moncler is undoubtedly one of the brands to follow these days. Many of you must be wondering why I am reviewing a brand that is mainly focused on nylon in this website, but the fur from Moncler Gamme Rouge, the higher line design by Giambattista Valli, is sometimes to die for. 

The last collection does not have much fur, but look at the one in the pictures. The mix of furs was amazing, I remember really funky pieces a few seasons ago and the quality and functionality was really good. I find Moncler perfect for the young generations of fur wearers and those looking for some statement pieces. 

Before Remo Ruffini took over Moncler, it was just a sports brand with high quality nylon and down jackets. Now it is a rounded brand with so much offer that you can pretty much dress head to toe in Moncler and be ready for the day while you are warm and stylish! 

It is true that sometimes I have found some low quality furs in some designs, but that will be mostly in its main collection while the Gamme Rouge items are cherished and produced up to the highest standards in the market. I am sure that Giambattista Valli has something to do with that, being a couture designer he knows how important is quality for the customer! 

Dennis Basso

Dennis Basso is considered New York's "King of Fur" and he certainly is.

The story behind Dennis Basso is one of love. Love of craftsmanship, quality, fashion and dedication. What he started in 1983 as an exclusive fur business, has developed into a big multinational that offers a very wide range of women's fashion, from RTW to bridal, and of course fur. Everything is created and produced in New York, a fact that has become one of the trademarks of the brand. 

The quality of Dennis Basso's sable fur is among the best in the market, and his designs are so updated and contemporary that every woman should have a piece of them.

Dennis Basso is usually present in red carpet events as many celebrities love his designs, which has traduced in a bigger media attention to the movements of the brand. Among the celebrities wearing his designs are Naomi Campbell, Olivia Palermo or Catherine Zeta Jones. 

Fendi

Fendi is probably the best known and more celebrated furrier in fashion. The House of Fendi was born in 1925 in Rome, but thanks to the charismatic figure of its Creative Director, Karl Lagerfeld, which has been in the head of the House since 1965,  Fendi has enjoyed its greatest success.

Sometimes elegant and sophisticated, others funky and irreverent, the personality of Karl is printed in each Fendi collection. But we can truly say that the brand has reached its glory mostly due to its accessories, although it is the fur that gives the house the highest attention and respect. Fendi is part of LVMH, the biggest fashion conglomerate in the world, and at the end of day they need to be profitable. But let's not dwell in the reality of the market and let's dream furry dreams! Fendi showcases high class fur pieces with a great quality... and price!

I found this video of Fendi History on its website and I fell in love. Have a look if you want to know more:

Yves Salomon

Let me set the record straight. Nobody, I repeat, nobody creates a fur piece like Yves Salomon. They are the masters, they are the ones to look at and the ones to follow. Almost 100 years in the business focusing only on fur have given them the right to claim that they are the furriers by excellence. And that is why I wanted to start this blog with them.

Many superbrands do fur, but they are not truly specialise only on that. Even Fendi (I know you all are thinking about them right now) have built its success on the accessories world, which is fair but it kind of divert the attention for what their core product was.

The power of the name Salomon is historical. And their name is known and respected not only by fur lovers all around the globe, but furriers and fur dealers. Whenever they are in a fur auction everybody know what they are here to look for: the best quality, the most rare pieces and the unexpected. That is why they have been setting trends even before they had their own brand and can offer the best quality without the stupid price point of some superbrands.

In 1910, Gregory Salomon is exiled from Russia to Siberia and in 1920 decided to emigrate to Paris, France, where he keeps trading with fur as it has done for many years. Time passes and the Salomon established themselves as the most respected fur traders from the region. During the 80's, and with the company in the hands of Yves Salomon (3rd generation), he decided to create the brand that carries his name. Yves Salomon collaborates with big names like Dior, Prada, Thierry Mugler, Alaïa, and it is present in the first Gaultier Couture show.

Among others, Yves Salomon works with the best qualities of lynx, sable, chinchilla and mink, producing timeless and iconic pieces. In the last years they have been more adventurous mixing the fur and investing in technology in order to get great pieces of fur mixed with cashmere or piton. They offer a wide range of leather pieces too, and created two diffusion collections that are more affordable and attractive for a younger crowd: Army and Meteo.

Yves Salomon is now in the hands of the fourth generation in the family. Thomas Salomon is taking care of the brand his father created and his work have expanded a name that is present in the main fashion centres of the globe. 

Do you want to know more? Visit Yves Salomon's website and enjoy History and Fashion all together.