FAQ's

Here are some common questions that I get - feel free to submit others!

1. What is the warmest fur?  Sea otter, sea otter is the most dense fur in the world, in one square inch, it will have 500.000 - 1 million hairs.  The hide is very thick, a garment can also be made warmer by doubling the lining or using special lining.

2. Next warmest - Seal, beaver, wolf, fox

3. If the mammel is waterproof when alive is it waterproof when made into a garment?  No.  The waterproofing ability is lost when the mammel is killed and skinned. 

4. What is the care for fur garments?

The sea otter hide will most likely never get soaking wet or get snow soaked thru it - it is too thick - however it will get snow on it and get slightly damp - brush the snow off it and hang it to dry after you use it.  (remember sea otter fur is the most dense fur).

For the leather though - you can go to a leather/boot store and get a good quality leather spray - that will work (for the leather) but make sure to NOT spray it on the fur!  Only spray it on the leather.  

Every few weeks or months of use, depending on the amount of use - while fur is dry - put about half cup of cornmeal into the fur and brush out - this will clean, deodorize and condition the sea otter fur.  You do not need to clean the fur with any type of liquid.  Just dry cornmeal and a brush. 

If you ever want to take your fur hat to a commercial furrier to have it cleaned make sure to tell them that it is Alaskan sea otter fur, commercially tanned.  I would caution using commercial furriers to clean it only because they rarely deal with Alaskan fur.

This type of care is similar with most Alaskan furs - brush the snow off and hang dry.  Clean with cornmeal once in awhile for a shiney coat.