Fur may not be to everyone’s taste but tourists can’t get enough
As temperatures soar up to 50C in the UAE, some tourists are bypassing the beachwear, instead shopping to dress fashionably for the North Pole, writes Megha Merani.
White Rex Rabbit Cropped Sleeve Jacket with Fox Fur Collar, exclusively from Marc Kaufman Furs in NYCSellers of luxurious fur coats say business is brisk at their boutiques, even in the boiling climate.
“We get between 100 and 200 buyers a day at the moment,” the manager of Ciler Mexa, located in Deira’s famous ‘meha’ (fur jacket) district in Deira, told 7DAYS. The continuous flow of individual and wholesale customers arrive from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China, Hong Kong and other GCC countries.
“The weather outside does not matter,” Hamza said. “People are still coming to us because they are planning for the next season. And many customers from the Middle East – Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and even the UAE – have holiday homes in Europe and Australia, so they come to buy new coats for their trip.”
Olga, sales manager at Evi’s Furs at the Abraj Centre in Nasser Square, told 7DAYS that clients flock to the store at this time of year to take advantage of summer discounts.
“It’s already cheaper than prices in Russia, and now we are offering between 10 and 50 per cent off on selected items,” she said, adding that the bargains mean shoppers don’t have to compromise on their original choices.
“Sometimes they come in wanting to buy a long coat, but leave with a short one because it’s cheaper. Other times maybe they like lynx fur, but they buy mink because it’s cheaper.” The majority of the merchandise is imported from factories in Italy, Greece, Russia and China. The price of the furs is based on cut, colour and type of fur.
“Russian sable is the most expensive, priced at between $30,000 and $40,000. The sable is a small animal so it can take 35 skins to make one coat,” Hamza said. Other available skins include lynx, chinchilla, mink, rabbit, fox and goat, with prices starting at $1,000.
Alla Demyan, 16, from Ukraine, told 7DAYS she was in
town to shop for her first fur for her birthday next week. As she tried on various jackets, she said: “My mother promised to buy me one this year. I love to look stylish as I want to become a model.”
Her mum, Mariya, added: “We came now because hotels and flights are cheap. You have a better status if you are wearing a fur coat than a leather coat. I will also buy one for my sister and myself.”
Meanwhile, Chinese visitor Lily said she was looking to snap up deals for her clients in Hong Kong. She added: “I come on a buying trip every year to place orders with the factory, because some ladies are very picky and want a design copied from a magazine.”
Brown Sheared Mink Stroller from Marc Kaufman FursWe have a beautiful collection of unique designer furs for rent at every price range. If you are interested in renting a fur, come in and see what kinds of furs we have in stock and what’s available for fur rental in your size.
Marc Kaufman Furs
@marckaufmanfurs
Red Fox Fur Stroller with Belt & Hood, exclusively from Marc Kaufman Furs in NYCMarc Kaufman Furs in New York City, NY ships your fur purchases and rentals to wherever you may be: Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, Buffalo, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, California, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, Philadelphia, Taos, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Georgia, Portland, Oregon, Park City, Utah, Idaho, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Montana, Aspen, Colorado, Missouri, Anchorage, Alaska, Moscow, Russia, London, UK, England, Seoul, South Korea, Geneva, Gstaad, Lausanne, Zurich, Switzerland, Germany, Paris, Chamonix, France, Austria, Italy, Dubai, UAE, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, China, Tokyo, Osaka, Japan, Toronto, Whistler, British Columbia, Quebec, Canada, Helsinki, Finland, Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen, Oslo, Norway, Melbourne, Sydney, Australia, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Singapore; to all 50 States, and just about anywhere else in the World! With over 2000 quality furs to choose from, and the option to design your own, Marc Kaufman Furs of NYC has the most extensive online fur selection in the World.