Natural fur is widely used as a material for sewing outerwear, as well as for decoration and insulation of shoes. Wool is used to create fabric from which casual clothing, coats and other wardrobe items are subsequently sewn or knitted. In fact, these concepts are not much different from each other, but there is still a clear distinction.
Wool and fur, what's the difference?
The main difference between these materials is the method of their manufacture. Wool goes through several stages until it turns into the fiber we are familiar with for knitting and making things. It is cut from a living animal and subsequently undergoes processing.
Important! Wool has different structure, thickness and elasticity, depending on the breed, sex and age of the animal. This significantly affects the quality of the final product.
Fur is produced by tanning the skin of an animal with partial or complete preservation of the hair.The production process is quite labor-intensive, but it gives good results and high-quality raw materials for the production of expensive outerwear or decorative elements.
What is fur?
This concept is used to refer to the tanned skin of an animal from the following families:
- mustelids;
- hares and rabbits;
- canids;
- rodents;
- cats, including wild ones.
The hair after dressing the skin remains on the skin base, which distinguishes it from wool. As a rule, it does not undergo additional processing and remains almost in its original form, unlike the second raw material, which undergoes a complex preparation process.
The fur has the ability to dry quickly, but the tanned leather base prevents its rapid wear. At the same time, it wears well, protects wonderfully from frost and looks very beautiful.
What is wool?
This material goes through a more complex process of preparation and creation of thread for knitting. The fleece sheared from the animal is processed for a long time, distributed and the best is selected. It is then spun into thread.
Important! When producing wool thread, it is possible to add any synthetic additives that can improve the performance characteristics of the final product.
Knitwear made from natural raw materials acts as a good insulator for winter shoes, an ideal material for autumn-winter coats, perfectly protects against cold and wind, leaving the body the opportunity to “breathe”. It is less abrasion resistant than fur, but the service life of items made from both materials will be approximately the same.
Obvious differences
At first glance, the completely identical concepts of fur and wool, since they represent the hair of animals, have a number of significant differences:
- manufacturing methods (the production process varies greatly);
- leather base (hair is cut from a healthy animal);
- performance characteristics (due to the base, fur is considered a warmer material).
Important! Fur is initially considered a warmer and more durable material due to its natural basis. Correctly and efficiently processed skin allows the body to feel comfortable and protects it in any weather.
Both materials are widely used in the fashion industry. Fur and woolen knitwear are often used as insulation in autumn and winter shoes. The service life of these boots will be approximately the same, despite the obvious differences in materials.
Outerwear made from these two fabrics has improved properties, retains heat well without interfering with moisture exchange. The human body feels absolutely comfortable and cozy in outerwear made of wool or animal fur.