FURS FOR THE WOMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 86, 12 April 1927, Page 15

FURS FOR THE WOMAN.

WARM AND ATTRACTIVE WINTER CLOTHING. BITJLYn LASTING QI'ALITY. AUCKLAND FOUITERS MARK UP THEIR OWN GARMENTS. Every woman hues a beautiful fur roat and a line shoulder fur. but many people are. unable to decide what is really good quality, and therefore they retrain from buying. By consulting a reliable thin, however, one can be certain of obtaining the genuine article, and satir-fact ion is guaranteed. When the fact is taken into consideration that a fur garment is not just aon ct- sea son proposition, but that a good fur coat will last at least four or the winters, a purchase should be looked upon as an investment for comfort—and adornment —lather than a luxury. Many women compare the initial cost of fur with the price of a cloth garment, but this i≤ hardly fair, for fur styles do not change every season, and the fur coat, too, readily lends itself to alterations. A change of collar, new sleeves, or new cuffs, f>, fresh lining and a jiroper clean by experts will convert a live-year-old fur coat into a new one again, fit for several more seasons' wear. Buy With Confidence. A reliable Auckland firm is the Melba Fur Company, of 2SS, Queen Street, and wumen readers may visit this establishment witli every confidence that they will receive fair and honest treatment, and that the furs sold are genuine. The company imports its pelts and makes up its own furs and coats, and the individual customer may have her work executed to her own particular fancy—fur coats made to measure and designed to instructions, and of colours of her own choice. All garments are actually made upon the premises, and every article, whether a trimming for small collar or a hundredguinea fur coat, is fully guaranteed to be exactly what it is described as. Skins of all descriptions are stocked, from common rabbit to sable, skunk and otter. Furs are imported by the Melba Company from almost every corner of the globe—Australia. Canada. India. Russia, F.-urope, America. Ahi-k,i. etc.. in great variety. Renovations are an important item in the fur trade, and the Melba Fur Company keeps, a special staff on this work. Garments may be repaired, strengthened or entirely remodelled throughout in accordance with the latest dictates of fashion, though such a drastic measure as remodelling is seldom necessary. Advice as to the best treatment of last winter's coat before next winter comes i> giv->£ free of charge. Cleaning and Keeping. Fijga should not be cleaned with acids or petrol, or they will be seriously injured. An intricately constructed revolving drum is used by"the Melba Fur Company for cleaning purposes. The fur, stripped of its lining, is placed in the drum with specially prepared ingredients, which, when the drum is revolving, clean all grease and dirt out of the fur, and impart a fresh, glossy appearance. The. jiroeess generates heat, and is equivalent to the animal cleaning itself in its natural surroundings. Fur pelts are used in their natural shades, and women should be careful that they purchase a fur or a fur coat properly treated with safe dyes. Some cheap furs may be dangerous to a delicate skin. Different furs Daturnlly have different durability. The otter pelt in its natural colour will wear as long as any. and the beaver, skunk, mink and sealskin are also very durable. A word as to the preservation of fur garments. Moths prefer soiled to clean garments, and the only safe preventative against moths is cool storage. Exposure to sun will only fade the colour and dry lip the natural oil in fur, and such socafled remedies as camphor, newspaper ink, and so on, are really ineffective. Back Skins Only Used. In the manufacture of a fur garment it is essential, if good wear is to be given, to cut awa_V the under part of the; skin and use only the back fur of the animal. 'The back is naturally thicker and toTigher than the under parts, and the Melba Fur Company uses only the square back. This means extra co-t in the finished garment, but the customer is move than repaid in better wear and longer life. All Melba coats are guaranteed to be made up of back skins only. In the preparation of the skins prior to making up each pelt is damped, stretched on a board to shape, the pattern of the coat being chalked on the board. After thoroughly drying the skins are taken off and trimmed, and then stitched together by electric machines. All seams subjected to greater wear than others are taped for extra strength. Every coat and fur collar lias a double lining. The Melba Fur Company will dress your rabbit skins, dye them, and make up your coat complete. Fur Pointers. Pelts are "dressed" to make furs and 1)0 per cent of the process i» the labour involved. Never dry a damp or wet fur coat near heat; always keep fur in a cool place. Between the trapper and the retailer over 500.000 people are employed in the nir industry. Over 5000 tons of rabhit furs are sold at Sydney annually. The avciagi , weight is :!Ooz to the dozen. Furs can be faked, but a reliable firm, such as the Melba Fur Company, can be trusted to sell furs under their true description. A natural black fox fur. which is very rare, may be worth as much as £400. A sea otter may be worth the same amount, Canada's largest catch of any one fur is muscrut (musquash), of which 4,000,000 were collected in a year. The annual fur catch of Canada is worth about .£3,400,000.

The lining of a fur coat receives as much wear as the exterior, and needs as much thought and c;tre in selecting and making as the fur. Special hard wearing silks arc used for linings. A great many furs are dyed: very few pelts, or skins, are suitable to he used in thv'ir natural colour. The process of dyeing has little effect on the wearing qualities of the fur if carried out properly. All seal furs are dyed. Fur-repairing and remodelling work can be carried out just as well in the summer as in the winter, and the furriers are usually not so busy in the warm months and are thus able to give you better attention. Your wives would appreciate a, fur coat from the Melba Fur Company. A fur coat is ideal lor motoring in winter, so warm and comfortable.