Get comfy and chic for winter at the perfect fur shop
While furs are popular even in countries where the temperature never falls below zero, worn mainly as a token of chic, in places like Ukraine, were winters can be fierce, fur coats are actually worn for practical reasons. Though of course, the chic factor is also significant, as it’s not cold enough in Ukraine to make fur coats an absolute necessity. Forever popular with Kyivan ladies, furs can be found in many places around town, so which is the best place to go in search of a new refined winter outfit?
Khutra Ukrayiny (Furs of Ukraine) combines the finest Ukrainian fur pelts together with the talents of veteran Italian designers, offering fashionable and classic fur goods at affordable prices. Their shop works only with Ukrainian fur factories, selling a large number of long and short fur coats made from lynx. There is also a huge assortment of mink (basically white and light grey fur) in many diverse styles. However, while Khutra Ukrayiny offers a variety of fur and leather garments, the choice of furs is rather limited.
At Avra you’ll find a good selection of products made from chinchilla. There are short fur jackets, which can appear dark to light brown (Hr 29,000) depending on the lighting. Avra also sells a variety of mink coats (Hr 32,000 to Hr 46, 000) of different length and silhouettes, though designs supplied with a hood and belt prevail. If you want something cheaper for everyday wear you should have a look at fur coats made from rabbit, combined with white and grey fur and short fur coats from long-haired mink.
Snizhna Koroleva (Snow Queen) offers chinchilla, mink, sable, fox, lynx, beaver, and shearling fur coats, jackets, and fur accessories from the leading manufacturers of Italy, Germany, France and Turkey. If you prefer shearling pelts, they are presented in various colors and for all tastes – jackets from the thinnest leather of lamb, pony, and calf decorated with grig, python and iguana leather. Snizhna Koroleva sells mostly leather and shearling coats and jackets, and very classy fur coats. Most of the stock at Koroleva is truly expensive, so unless you drop by there in time for seasonal sales, be ready to spend.
Symbol Fur is a truly high-end shop, working mostly with fixed clientele. Having opened four years ago, Symbol Fur on Sofiyvska offers a variety of furs clothes made by Italian brands Annabella, RinDi, Giuliana Teso, Florence Mode, Simonetta Ravizza, and Valentino. The Annabella collection largely uses mink, sable, and chinchilla furs. Rindi offers mink fur coats and coats from Persian goat leather, and also new versions of classical trenches of various furs. Many models are decorated by lynx, chinchilla, and Russian sable fur. In the Giuliana Teso collection you’ll find imitation reptile skin on fur coats, delicate embroideries and perforation. The color spectrum is varied – from brown-plum up to soft cream colors. Prices at Symbol begin at Hr 15,000.
Already slightly overwhelmed by all the furs I have seen at the abovementioned stores, I finally found the perfect place for fur shopping at Imperia Mekha (Fur Empire). Their coats are made from the best quality furs by world famous designers. Imperia Mekha offers the finest in new fur coats, leathers, shearling coats, specialty outerwear and fur accessories. You’ll find a collection of relatively inexpensive mink-rag (Hr 3500), and mink fur coats of one of the most uncommon color, “stardust,” for the price of Hr 38,000. They also have various mink coats with tiger stripes and turtle shell patterns. Stylish and chic collections made from leopard fur (Hr 13,000) are also to be found on display.
Offering a great variety of full length coats, mink stoles, beaver fur jackets and luxurious sable coats, Imperia Mekha also has them all for reasonable prices. What’s more, Imperia boasts a professional storage facility during the warmer months. Their air-conditioned room – a cool basement with circulating air kept at 45-50 degrees F (7 to 10 C) and a humidity level of 50 percent, offer sufficient protection from moth damage and the drying out of leather. Giving your fur coat, jacket, stole or hat a summer vacation in cooler climates is one of the best steps you can take to increase its longevity and preserve its value.
Imperia Mekha (8 Ilyinska, 501-1036)
