Europe began to value Russian furs much earlier than our country realized their value. And if in the Middle Ages our ancestors traded mainly in furs, later sheep skins were added to the goods. And in the 20th century, karakul, a unique type of fur representing the skins of lambs, became especially widespread.
Despite the fact that it was known several centuries ago, it was the last century that became the golden age of the popularity of astrakhan fur, astrakhan fur. Many people believe that these are two different names for the same fur. But there are clear differences between them.
What is karakul: history of origin
Karakul is fur with streaks of skin from lambs, which is removed from them on the first day after their birth. Complementing the topic, astrakhan fur is the fur of which animal, it should be noted that this fur has a thick, elastic, silky structure. Unlike other materials, it has a variety of curls.
Lambs fur
According to legend, his homeland is the territory of the Turks, today it is Uzbekistan. It appeared around the 8th century thanks to the seizure of these lands by the Arabs. Along with the conquest, they brought a lot of their own into the culture. In particular, they brought Karakul sheep and began to make fur products from them. The indigenous people noticed the fact that these animals live well in Asia.
Curls
In the 15th century, the domestic Tver explorer Afanasy Nikitin, known for his land discoveries, brought astrakhan fur to Russian lands. Since then they have become popular.
Attention ! Today, astrakhan wool continues to be supplied from Central Asia, namely from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and some other places, in particular Iraq, South Africa, Romania and Moldova. The most valuable furs are from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and South Africa.
History of origin
How to get karakul
In response to what karakul is, it must be pointed out that it is taken from astrakhan lambs, and astrakhan smushka with whiting and strap is taken from sheep with coarse wool. In terms of wear resistance, it is similar to sheepskin. Its natural color is black and gray. Sometimes it is painted white. Its value lies in the unusual pattern formed from wool curls. Each skin is decorated with intricate lines and swirls.
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White lamb
Fur texture and density
Shape, size, combination of fur curl are the main indicators of astrakhan fur. Take a close look at them. If the curls flutter even a little, poor quality fur may have been used. Curls should be tight, elastic and flat. The product itself should be soft and delicate. If the fur coat is not flowy, not elastic, but rather harsh, perhaps they are offering you goat fur, which unscrupulous sellers often pass off as astrakhan fur. Smooth, symmetrical patterns increase the cost of an item.
Specify the country of origin of the fur: Uzbek karakul from Bukhara is considered the most wear-resistant, it has a dense, rich, tubular curl. Afghan karakul has a characteristic curl - more shiny, flat, ribbed. A fur coat made from Afghan karakul is the densest and most frost-resistant.
Kinds
Black astrakhan fur is divided according to its origin. It happens, for example, Uzbek, Afghan and South African.
Unlike other varieties, the first type is the cheapest. The peculiarity lies in lightness with subtlety.
Afghan karakul has a ribbed-flat scroll pattern. The skins are larger in size and of better quality. Therefore, the price of this fur is higher.
South African is the most expensive. It is produced in remote Namibian regions. Wool is light and fine. Each of them has a beautiful curl.
Attention ! Also, astrakhan fur is divided into groups depending on the material, curls and elasticity.
Black look
What is the difference between astrakhan fur and astrakhan fur?
Karakul and Kurakulcha are the same type of sheepskin fur. Expanding on the topic of what kind of fur is astrakhan fur, it is worth pointing out that the difference is that astrakhan fur is the fur from sheep embryos, and astrakhan fur is the fur of one-day or three-day lambs that have reached their full maturity in the womb and were born.
Broadtail
How does astrakhan fur differ from other types?
Astrakhan fur is thick and silky. Its color is varied, but the most popular is black. It has a unique wool swirl pattern. Gray fur has color transitions and has a more straight structure. Chestnut and snow-white are in short supply. It costs the most.
Swakara: what kind of fur is this?
In answer to the question, what kind of fur is swakara, we can answer that swakara is the exclusive black, grey, brown or white fur of newborn Namibian lambs, which has a unique pattern. Since Namibian supplies are limited, swakara is highly sought after and expensive.
Swakara
Afghan karakul
It is distinguished by its large size and weight, flat structure and ribbed curlicue pattern. One canvas can reach a length of 1.2 to 2 meters. It has an extraordinary shine that adds chic to a product made from it. It has high quality and density.
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Attention ! In response to how this type of karakul is obtained, one can point out that it is obtained in the same way as all other types.
Afghan view
Color
In total, there are about 150 shades of astrakhan, making up 3 large groups. The rarer the shade, the more valuable and expensive the color. The most extensive and inexpensive group is black astrakhan fur (furs mainly of Bukhara origin), the second group is brown: cocoa, dark chocolate, bronze, brown, rare ones - amber rum and sur; and silver: antique, maroon, pearl-graphite, guligaz. The brightness of the antique color is compared to the glow of phosphorus in the dark, which adds value to this fur.
Remember our advice when buying an astrakhan fur coat, act slowly - we are sure that you will make the right choice!
Types of fur raw materials obtained from the Karakul breed
How is karakul made and what are the types of karakul? The following types of fur raw materials are known, which can be obtained from unborn or newborn lambs:
- Smushka is the skin from a Smushka sheep from four-day-old lambs. It is distinguished by its softness, matte and shiny structure, loose and braided curls.
- Moire is a canvas with a moire pattern and low hairline.
- Klyam is a canvas that has a low raised cover with manes and a moiré pattern.
- Merlushka is a soft, coarse wool, glassy-shiny and matte, on which curls of various shapes are formed.
- Webbing is a cover consisting of ring-shaped curls.
- Treasok and sak-sak - a cover consisting of ring-shaped and corkscrew-shaped curls. Has a silky texture.
- Golyak - skins with barely visible wool from four-month abortions and embryos of sheep.
- Kurakulcha - skins of four-month-old embryos.
- Yahobab - skins of one-month-old lambs that were obtained during forced slaughter.
- Treasok is the wool of six-month-old lambs.
Attention ! It is also obtained from the Karakul breed of sheepskin - the skins of adult animals. It is often dry and friable.
Golyak
Karakul and broadtail
Their texture is unusual, and their stylish style will add charm to your look. Large, random curls of astrakhan fur are a unique effect in the product. These pliable materials have always been loved by both designers and fashionistas. Among the variety of this fur, you can choose exactly the one that will be the best for you.
Several types of fur can be obtained from domestic sheep. For example, sheepskin - the fur of an adult sheep - is one of the warmest and most durable. Its wear resistance is 55% of the standard.
Mouton
- also sheep fur, but processed in a certain way. Karakul and broadtail are the skins of lambs, for which the Karakul breed of sheep is used.
Sheep fur, including astrakhan fur and astrakhan fur, is not only beautiful and elegant, it is adapted to external climatic influences better than any other fur. This fur is easy to clean and dye.
Previously, astrakhan fur was worn by women aged 35+. Now this fur is also popular among very young girls.
And so, let’s figure it out - what is astrakhan fur and what is broadtail? Karakul is the skins of newborn lambs - no older than three days. The female carries the cubs for 20-25 weeks, and usually 1 or 2 lambs are born, and some types of sheep are capable of producing 3-4 cubs. In terms of wear resistance, astrakhan fur is not inferior to sheepskin. The natural color of astrakhan fur is black, gray, sometimes silver and gold, and very rarely white. The value of black astrakhan fur is determined by the beauty of the pattern, which is formed by curls of wool. In each skin, intricate lines and curls create unique and fantastic patterns on the surface of the fur.
Gray has less pronounced curls, but it is no less beautiful due to color transitions.
If a gray karakul contains a certain amount of brown hairs, the skins acquire a beautiful lilac hue. This variety is called “guligaz” - “tamarisk flower”.
Rarer colors are brown and white. Brown astrakhan fur is quite rare in its natural form. But there are colors - chocolate, beige, red, cold fawn. One of the most valuable varieties of brown astrakhan fur is “sur”. This variety is interesting because the intensity of the color of the hairs changes along the length - the root has a darker brown tint, and the ends are lighter.
And finally, the rarest color is white. Afghan white astrakhan is highly valued. White swakara has a milky color.
Broadtail
- skins of unborn lambs. The beauty of the skins lies in the moire pattern, the hair is short and silky, the curls are large, almost unformed. Naturally the skins are small in size. But, despite its lower strength compared to astrakhan fur, astrakhan fur is highly valued and in great demand. The cost of astrakhan fur is higher than the cost of astrakhan fur due to its unique beauty and, accordingly, popularity. The color scheme of astrakhan fur is the same as astrakhan fur. Dyed broadtail comes in different colors and of course black. The natural color of broadtail is black, gray, variegated and sur (if the hair at the base is darker and the tips are light, silver or light golden).
Types of karakul are determined mainly depending on the breed of sheep. For example, Karakul is Uzbek, Afghan, and South African.
Uzbek karakul
- the most inexpensive. Its curls are tight, tubular, it is light and thin. The skins are small in size. And all this determines the cost and popularity of the skins.
Afghan karakul
has a ribbed flat curl pattern. The size of the skins is slightly larger than the Uzbek one, astrakhan fur has an extraordinary shine, which gives it a luxurious look. This astrakhan is of very high quality and light, and therefore its cost is significantly higher than the Uzbek one.
South African karakul (swakara)
- Karakul, which is produced in Namibia. Swakara has a flat curl. The skins are simply magnificent. They are light and thin. This is the most expensive scribble.
As you know, sheepskin is denser, stronger and warmer compared to astrakhan fur and astrakhan fur, but an adult sheep does not have such a beautiful curl pattern. What to do? Yes, they really raise Karakul sheep to produce Karakul, but these, we repeat once again, are the skins of lambs that are only 2-3 days old! Even if you are not one of the “green” people or vegetarians, it still somehow makes your soul a little sad. However, a method has been developed for modifying the hair of sheepskin. With special processing, you can get artificial curls that are quite resistant to moisture, and are very similar to astrakhan curls.
Karakul is divided into varieties and groups depending on the breed of sheep, the quality of the hair (silky, shiny), the shape of the curls and their elasticity, and of course depending on the defects.
Karakul, broadtail, smushka, whiting, strap - these are all the skins of lambs of a certain age of various breeds of sheep with primary hair. Karakul and broadtail are obtained from lambs of the Karakul breed, and smushka, whiting and strap are obtained from lambs of fine-fleece, semi-fine-fleece, semi-coarse-wool and coarse-wool sheep.
Karakul of purebred Karakul sheep is silky, dense with various curls. There are several types of curls: roller, mane, bob, ring, half-ring, corkscrew, lasa, polka dot.
Skins of mixed-breed lambs (from coarse-wool and Karakul sheep) - with rough hair. They are slightly silky, glassy-shiny or matte. Skins with varying degrees of curl.
Smushka
– skins of lambs of Smuskov breeds of sheep, aged 2 - 4 days. The fur is soft, slightly shiny or matte, the curls are similar to astrakhan fur, but looser and even braided.
The skins of fine-fleece, semi-fine-wool, semi-coarse-wool and coarse-wool lambs are divided into several types:
Muare
– with low hairline, with a moiré pattern.
Klam
– with low raised hairline, consisting of manes and ridges, with a moiré pattern.
Lambskin
- with soft or slightly rough, glassy-shiny or matte hair, forming curls of various shapes (in skins - mainly on the ridge and rump).
Strap
- soft hair, which consists of curls in the form of rings or polka dots.
Shaking and sak-sak
– soft silky hair, consisting of ring-shaped and corkscrew-shaped curls.
Karakulcha is very popular in modern fashion. The moire pattern with a beautiful shine gives the product an unusual appearance. Delicate and beautiful broadtail fur looks like flowing dense fabric. Fur products are not just floor-length fur coats. These are coats, short fur coats, suits, dresses, capes, scarves, silk-lined shawls and many other luxurious wardrobe items that designers create, perfectly combining astrakhan fur and leather, leaving the silhouette graceful and feminine.
Astrakhan fur and astrakhan fur are highly plastic fur, so not only coats, suits and jackets are made from it, but also bags. Instead of a regular knitted scarf or stole, you can wear a fur scarf made of astrakhan fur. You can wear it untucked, crosswise, fastened with a beautiful brooch, or you can wrap it comfortably around your neck. In any case, if necessary, it can be easily removed.
A fur bolero is a great alternative to fur vests. The bolero can be worn with an elegant cashmere coat or with a suit.
Winter time, whatever it may be - frost, cold, slush, ice, wind - you are not afraid of it, when there are so many opportunities to experiment with such interesting materials as astrakhan fur, broadtail, whiting, webbing and many others...
