Furrier

Job overview
A furrier designs and makes coats, collars, shawls, jackets, hats, handbags and other articles from fur.

What do people do in this job?
Furriers purchase furs on the international market, where sales are held monthly in Copenhagen.

Karakul and mink are currently among the favourite furs of many clients.

In designing and making garments, the furriers or their designers sketch detailed designs to the customer's measurements, taking into account the client's age, build and personality.

A pattern is then sketched on paper and cut out in lightweight canvas.

Then a model garment is made and fitted to the customer.

When a satisfactory fit has been achieved, the cutting of the skins and sorting them onto the pattern begins.

Next, a machinist sews the skins together and the garment is almost ready for fitting.

After the fitting a liner sews the lining into the garment.

The fur of the finished article is then moistened and, when dry, brushed to bring back glossiness and texture to the fur that has been roughened during the various processes.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Good eyesight is necessary, as certain stages require close-up work.

Good eye-hand coordination, nimble fingers, sensitivity for colour and form and a natural ability to design are important.

What qualifications are needed?
There are no formal qualifications, but apart from the physical skills mentioned above, a furrier running his/her own business needs to be good at recognising quality, assessing the market and calculating prices etc.