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“It’s not that people are surprised
that we can reconstruct fur garments,”
says owner Guy Herrmann, standing in
the showroom of Carl W. Herrmann Furs on Smithfield Street. “They’re surprised to the extent we can.”
For four generations, the Herrmann family has catered that delight by adapting to fashion and
trends that have evolved considerably since the company was founded in 1900. Sure, they still cater
to those who prefer a traditional cut, but these days, grandma’s full length mink can be deconstructed and modernized to suit the “It Girl” of any age.
“We can work the hem up, shear and groove it, change the collar style, or add ruffled edges,” Guy says. “Often, we can also turn it into a reversible raincoat, cape, or vest, which is a huge trend right now. The only thing that limits us is the age of the fur because over time, the leather hide is slowly drying out if it’s not been properly stored.”
The fullness can also be taken out to make it more lightweight. Twenty to thirty years ago, Guy explains, coats were made with very thick hides that could weight up to eight and a half pounds. While that might seem nominal, imagine carrying a gallon of water on your back all winter long. Today, clients want versatility, buttery softness, and feather weights.
Upstairs on the second floor, a master furrier will spend an entire day cutting, stitching, and patterning something into a new design. The majority of the changes are related to shortening hemlines. Ninety-five percent of the coats today are knee length to mid-thigh. The final product has a fun, edgier vibe that tends to be much more versatile. Clients can just as easily envision wearing them with a ball gown as they can with a pair of dark jeans and cozy turtleneck.
By Kate Benz
“Some people come in and balk at the idea of shorten- ing an expensive coat into a jacket or stroller,” Guy says. “However, the real value is in the enjoyment. My answer to them is always, ‘What kind of value or enjoyment are you getting out of something that sits in your closet or storage not being worn?”
Another sticking point has to do with perceived cost. Many are under the impression that reconstructing a fur garment is a bank-breaking pursuit. Not so, says Guy. “We recently had a client who brought in a mink coat that hadn’t been worn in years. We were able to have it sheared and fashioned into a tailored jacket, and with what was left over we created a stole and a cape with mink whip-stitching. The total cost for everything was $4,100.”
Even if age and poor condition put the kabob on recon- struction, trading in your old fur is always an option. Today’s designs come in a variety of bold hues – navy, burgundy, purple, red, hunter green – in addition to the timeless neutrals. Choose from mink, fox, sheared beaver, and shearling – all 100% farm raised. Water proof materials, similar to that used on the reversible raincoats, come in 95 different colors. Patterns are sleek, fits tapered. Garments move with you, rather than re- stricting you.
Gents can also indulge in leather, furs, or our best sell- ing shearling products. “Think ‘Marlboro Man’ with a modern twist,’” Guy says.
There are also a wide variety of fur accessories to choose from, including everything from ear and hand muffs, gloves, scarves, hats, slippers, and boot cuffs to purses, ascots, hair bands and even cell phone cases.
Regardless of what you choose, protecting your in- vestment is the key to its longevity. An air conditioned home is not sufficient enough to prevent accelerated deterioration of materials. Instead, for $52/year, you can store your garment in the Herrmann’s fur vault, where temperatures hold steady at 39 degrees.
When properly cared for, tailored and refashioned to complement your personal style, there’s no reason why any fur garment can’t outlast how long you’ll like it.
“There have been times when I’ve gotten on the phone with a client’s daughter because they just couldn’t en- vision their mother’s old coat being turned into some- thing trendy,” Guy says. “I always start off those conver- sations by saying, ’I know what you’re thinking,’ but the reality is that there’s no telling what we can do with it.”
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