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Contents

Kopenhagen Fur – a global suCCess

assoCIatIon anD auCtIon house In one

Fur From past to present

large DanIsh proDuCtIon

mInK FarmIng In DenmarK

natural annual CyCle at mInK Farms

hIgh teChnology In Fur FarmIng

health Is a prImary ConCern

anImal WelFare on DanIsh mInK Farms

Very FeW WounDs anD InJurIes

DanIsh mInK Farmers are ChampIons oF WelFare

mInK FarmIng Is ethICally CorreCt

the entIre mInK Is useD

global Centre oF Fur sales

the WorlD’s largest Fur auCtIon

the northern hemIsphere aCCounts For the WorlD’s

Fur ConsumptIon

traDItIonal CraFtsmanshIp

Fur Changes WIth FashIon

Consumers’ Way through the WorlD oF Fur

real Fur Is more enVIronment-FrIenDly than plastIC Fur

KiCK - Kopenhagen internatIonal Centre For CreatIVIty

oh! by Kopenhagen Fur

DanIsh Fur holDs a unIque leaDIng posItIon In

the ChInese marKet

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Fur is one of Denmark’s few global successes. Denmark produces high quality mink skins, and the Danish

mink farmers jointly own the world’s largest fur auction house, Kopenhagen Fur. Denmark holds a leading position, which makes

the fur sector unique from a Danish standpoint. no other Danish sector enjoys a similar global position of strength.

this is also why the ministry of business and growth has selected the fur sector as a special competence cluster in the

Danish business community.

the fur sector has many facets, from animal breeding to international sales to the fashion industry. a direct line can be

drawn from Danish fur farms to the international catwalks of paris, london, milan and new york.

Kopenhagen Fur covers every aspect of the fur universe by being the trade association for the Danish fur farmers, an international auction house, the business developer for fur

companies, the brand of the finest skins, the producer of fur accessories and an inspirer of the fashion world.

this booklet offers you an insight into this unique sector, starting with animal breeding and progressing to the stage where

furriers stitch the skins together into luxurious fur coats. If you want to know more than you can read in this book, please

visit our website, kopenhagenfur.com.

Kopenhagen Fur is the world’s

largest Fur auction house. in 2013,

the auction house sold Fur at a value oF dKK 13.4 billion.

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association and auction house in one

Kopenhagen Fur is a cooperative society owned by the members of the Danish Fur breeders association. It is the world’s largest fur auction house. buyers flock from all over the world to the fur auctions where the world market price of mink skin is set. mink skin is the only raw material priced in Denmark, which means that the price development at Kopenhagen Fur’s auctions impacts fur traders from shanghai to new york.

most of the skins sold are mink, but Kopenhagen Fur also auctions fox, chinchilla, seal, sable, karakul and swakara. annual revenue exceeds several billions, distributed on five auctions. almost all skins are sold for export, thus making a major contribution to Denmark’s export earnings and the balance of payments. Fur skins are the second largest export article of the Danish agricultural sector.

the story of Danish fur breeding gathered momentum in 1930, when the first breeders united to found the Danish Fur breeders association. until that time, enterprising men and women had imported breeding

animals from places like norway and Canada, from where fur breeding at farms originated. before farm breeding began, all skins were wild skins coming from animals hunted for their fur. the establishment of the organisation of fur breeders in Denmark coincided with the sweeping agricultural crisis of the 1930s. the crisis paved the way for new production forms, and fur breeding became many farmers’ ticket out of hard times.

In the pioneering years, the skins were sold by Kjøbenhavns pelscentral (Copenhagen Fur Centre). In 1946, the Danish Fur breeders association acquired Kjøbenhavns pelscentral, and the foundation of a Danish international success was established. the new name, Danish Fur sales, quickly became a familiar name around the world. In 1963, the auction house moved to glostrup, just outside Copenhagen. today, Kopenhagen Fur has more than 80,000 square metres, where millions of skins are sorted and sold in large, uniform bundles - ready for dressing and sewing into fur garments.

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Fur From past to present

Fur is the world’s oldest type of clothing. the unique ability of fur to keep a body warm has served to protect man against the elements ever since prehistoric times. For thousands of years, fur has been traded across borders and continents. the unique material has always been expensive and in high demand. ancient trading routes and towns were founded on fur trade, generating development and wealth. the Danes’ famed warrior ancestors, the Vikings, were also skilled traders and then as now fur was an obvious item among the goods supplied from the nordic region. Fur was exchanged for other attractive articles such as gold along the Vikings’ trading routes.

the first written sources on sales of fur in Denmark date back to 1294. already then, fur was considered an exclusive item and the law dictated which fur types noblemen could wear and which only the king could use. ermine, for example, symbolises the monarchy and was for centuries the most expensive garment a man could find. Kings’ crowning cloaks were ermine-lined and were made with the specific aim of demonstrating power and wealth. the Danish national coat of arms displays an ermine cloak.

by the end of the 18th century, Canada and russia had started to breed fur-bearing animals. From there, fur breeding quickly spread to europe, particularly the scandinavian countries. today, Denmark is the global trade centre of the international fur industry. maintaining the cooperative concept, Danish fur breeders have succeeded in developing the sector to its current position through cooperation and knowledge sharing. Individuals grow stronger through the cooperative, and this idea has put the fur sector into a unique position as a crown jewel of the Danish business sector.

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denmarK is the world’s

largest producer oF high-end

minK sKins with an annual

production oF over 17 million.

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large DanIsh proDuCtIon

boasting production of 17.2 million skins in 2013, Denmark is the world’s second largest producer of mink skins. the mink are bred at around 1,450 mink farms distributed all over Denmark. the farms are concentrated in key fishing areas, because access to the raw material used in mink feed is abundant.

the Danish fur breeders drive the global development of the business in close cooperation with the ancillary industries. as such, Denmark is not only one of the world’s largest mink producers; but also one of the largest producers of mink breeding equipment. the ancillary industries are frontrunners when it comes to developing and supplying high-technology farm equipment, which in turn helps to secure Danish mink farmers a competitive advantage. Fur-animal breeders directly create 6,000 jobs, to which should be added even larger derived effects.

however, Denmark is not the only producer of mink fur. other major producer countries are norway, sweden, Finland, Iceland, holland, poland, russia, the baltic countries, China, Canada and usa. the socio-economic impact of fur breeding is most significant in europe. here, the business creates up to 60,000 jobs according to the european Fur Information Center, a pan-european business association.

the production of mink skin varies considerably over time in step with fluctuations in demand. Weather conditions, economic trends and fashion trends are some of the factors determining the demand. Currently, world production comes to around 80 million skins. It has more than doubled in just 10 years.

the number of mink farms rose constantly until the end of the 1980s, topping 5,000 at that time. today, Denmark has about 1,450 fur-breeding farms, but each farm is on average much larger, and fur is now one of Denmark’s major exports.

Denmark also produces a small number of other skin types, such as chinchilla and rex rabbit skin.

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mInK FarmIng In DenmarK

mink is the most common fur animal. It is a member of the mustelidae family and descends from the wild north american mink. the family also includes a european wild mink. the farmed mink is domesticated, meaning that its behaviour and genetics deviate significantly from the wild species, for which reason it is adapted to living in captivity just as cows and pigs. mink fur consists of two types of hair: tophair and underwool. Its fur comes in a variety of colours, spanning from white to black, shades of brown, blue, violet and markings with various tints of tophair.

Denmark’s cool summers and mild winters makes the Danish climate ideal for fur animals, and the availability of fresh, nutritious feed could not be better. Farmers have access to the perfect raw materials for feed such as fish and slaughter waste cuts. additionally, Denmark has a long-standing tradition for livestock farming, and many fur farmers also engage in other types of agriculture or livestock farming.

mink require light and fresh air. they live in wire pens and have adjacent breeding pens lined with straw. mink pens are typically mounted in sheds that are four metres wide and up to 40-50 metres long. the breeding pens face the central gangway, which is also used for feeding, caring, straw strewing and monitoring. every pen has a drinking valve, ensuring that mink always have access to fresh water.

a wire fence encircles the mink farm to prevent any escaped animals from slipping out of the farm. the fence also prevents other animals from entering the farm, thus avoiding transmitting infectious diseases.

In recent years, heavy investments have been made in the fur-animal sector, the aim being to constantly improve the environmental conditions at fur farms and breed the healthiest animals in the most appropriate way.

In addition, the farmers use state-of-the-art It equipment for operational management, breeding and analysis. such tools ensure fur farmers the optimum overview, efficiency, optimisation and genetic progress of their animals.

iF you wish to visit a

danish minK Farm, go to the website

dansKeminKavlere.dK

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natural annual CyCle at mInK Farms

NATURAL MATING light conditions control the heat cycles of mink females. mating starts in early march and ends two weeks later. mink females mate twice. mink differ from other farm animals, as the actual act of mating triggers ovulation. nine days after the first mating, a fresh portion of oocytes appear in the ovarian follicles. Females which have not mated by the end of march are marked for pelting.

PREGNANCYunlike other farm animals, the mink pregnancy period may vary from 40 to 70 days. the reason is that embryonic development only starts, once the eggs have attached themselves. From that time, the pregnancy lasts for about 30 days.

KITS OFF TO A GOOD START the delivery period normally stretches from about 25 april to 10 may. In case of large litters with more than 8-9 kits, it may be necessary to foster some of the kits to other dams, because a dam can have difficulty in caring satisfactorily for such a large litter. Dams with few kits can easily adopt extra kits from large litters.

When the kits are four weeks old, they start being fed on the lid of the nest box. by being fed on the lid of the nest box, the kits are weaned faster, thus relieving the dam. later, the kits must also learn to drink from the regular farm watering system.

GOOD GROWTHthe kits are weaned from their dam at eight weeks. around 1 July, a male and a female kit are placed together to ensure that their behaviour develops normally. after weaning, the breeding female is placed in a pen with a well-packed and draught-free breeding pen.

by the end of august, the mink’s physical development is largely completed. after this point, weight gain primarily consists of fat.

by the end of october, the process of selecting next year’s breeding animals starts. animal size, feed conversion ratio, behaviour and fur quality are selection criteria. animals not selected as breeding animals, are pelted.

pelting is carried out in november/December. During the pelting process, skins are processed to preserve them for a year. the skins are stretched on drying boards to keep their shapes after drying.

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hIgh teChnology In Fur FarmIng

Focusing on giving mink farmers and feed companies access to large volumes of detailed information of prices, feed composition and genetics, Kopenhagen Fur’s year-long venture into business Intelligence has resulted in additional progress in quality and thus greater profitability in fur farms.

Fur farmers have access to vast quantities of information which they can analyse and use in their activities to improve production. Data is registered from all levels of the production process from breeding over feeding to the final sales prices at auctions, so that each mink farmer can access his own key figures and compare them to the overall picture. In that way, each farmer can compare his production with the overall picture and by means of computer software, he can analyse how to optimise his production.

Currently, individual feeding is a major development area. mink vary in efficiency to convert feed, and individual feeding identifies the difference in feed conversion efficiency. the approach paves the way for optimised feed consumption, thus lowering cost levels. a recent breakthrough in genetics research at the Danish Centre for Food and agriculture at aarhus university has paved the way for selecting breeding females in accordance with feed conversion efficiency. the model has been implemented in Kopenhagen Fur’s breeding and management programme FurFarm Web, which supports the work at the individual fur farms.

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health Is a prImary ConCern

Danish fur-bearing animals are rarely ill. the primary reasons are that mink live in open sheds with fresh air and have access to dry breeding pens well lined with straw. Fur farmers continuously monitor their animals’ health in cooperation with local veterinarians.

the fur-animal sector’s veterinary service prepares health programmes for mink farmers. at the veterinary laboratory, Kopenhagen Diagnostics, millions of blood samples are analysed to diagnose aleutian disease. the disease causes poor health and destroys the immune system of mink, thus making it more susceptible to other diseases. a control programme for the disease was launched in 1976, and today very few farms are directly affected by it.

efficient immunisation programmes have been set up to prevent several of the other diseases that can afflict mink.

In general, mink in Denmark enjoy excellent health, one advantage being very low mortality.

the raw materials used in feed primarily consist of waste cuts from the fishing and meat industries mixed with plant proteins. the raw materials used for fur-animal feed are often by-products from companies producing foods for human consumption.

Fur-bearing animals are highly sensitive to feed quality and for that reason require feed that is always fresh. the feed producers’ cooperative, Dansk pelsdyr Foder (Danish Fur-animal Feed), purchases raw materials for the entire industry, thus ensuring uniform quality and daily deliveries to each farm. the feed is produced in feed kitchens all over the country.

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DenmarK has 1,450 mInK Farms.

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anImal WelFare on DanIsh mInK Farms

mink farms must be run according to the rules laid out in the “executive order on protection of Fur animals”. this order came into force on 1 January 2007 and is based on european rules in the field, a report from the Danish animal ethics Council and comprehensive research into mink behaviour.

Denmark is the world’s second largest producer of mink skins. as a natural consequence of this position and the Danish tradition of livestock research, animal welfare in mink production is continuously subject to scientific research. research mainly takes place at aarhus university and at the university of Copenhagen. both universities run a mink farm where animal welfare is studied and described. In addition, Kopenhagen Fur operates its own research unit, which also comprises a research breeding farm.

“mink welfare” – a memo prepared by aarhus university commissioned by the ministry of Justice in april 2010 reviews animal welfare in mink production. the conclusion is that the rules on mink farming provide a framework for good animal welfare.

our mink farming gives top priority to welfare. For instance:

• Farmed mink are domesticated and extensively adapted to the physical production environment and the contact with other mink and humans. by continuously demanding selection for good welfare, the new executive order ensures that this development continues. regard for the animals’ temper is possible through commercially available breeding programmes.

• the primary activity periods of mink are sunrise and sunset. mink spend 70-80% of their time in the nest box, corresponding to the conditions of their wild relatives. their behavioural need to stay in a nest has therefore been taken into account.

• Farmed mink live according to their nature. they mate naturally, and the female builds a nest of straw in the nest box. they give birth only once a year. the number of litters cannot therefore be increased by artificially speeding up the weaning of the kits. Weaning of the kits at the age of eight weeks is a proven optimum compromise between female and kit welfare, and the separation of the litter is gradual and ensures proper socialisation to members of the same species as well as humans.

• When young, the mink are kept in pairs, male and female, to stimulate play and diversion and to allow them to establish a hierarchy with the male as the dominant. When adult, the mink are kept separate in accordance with their solitary lifestyle.

• the size of the pen allows the mink to perform behavioural patterns specific to the species, i.e. the animals can move freely, care for their fur, lie down, sleep, stretch their limbs and withdraw and rest in the nest box. a doubling or quadrupling of the pen area does not increase mink welfare.

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• the new executive order requires shelves or tubes which the mink can use as a resting place, lookout and for the female as a refuge from the male or from the kits during the suckling period. If the pipe lies on the bottom of the pen, it serves as a stimulus, which the mink can hide in or move around. the new initiatives help improve mink welfare. It is still being looked into the availability of objects that can withstand being scratched, chewed and torn.

• the new executive order ensures that mink have permanent access to straw. straw is important for the female’s nesting behaviour and is used throughout the year as an occupational material which the mink carry around the pen, form and chew it. straw also serves as an insulating material in the nest box. permanent access to straw improves mink welfare.

• stereotype behaviour is virtually unknown in young animals, most of which are put down in november. stereotypy is thus primarily seen during winter and only in a small number of breeding animals. similar to anticipatory behaviour, stereotypy is clearly related to feeding times. the effect of individual feeding on stereotypy reduction is still being investigated.

• the occurrence of fur biting is hereditary and has been reduced markedly during recent years. new studies indicate the possibility of further reducing the occurrence of stereotypy and fur biting by means of suitable stimulating objects which the mink can scratch, bite and tear.

• the requirement of an empty pen between females during nursing as stipulated in the order ensures more peace and quiet on the farm during this sensitive period. however, in practice, this requirement may involve extra relocation of the breeding females.

• mink are only handled (moved in traps) a few times during the production cycle. handling takes place when the female is moved to the male’s pen for mating, during weaning when the female is moved away from the litter, when the kits are relocated in pairs at the age of 9-10 weeks, during vaccination and fur sorting and when the breeding animals are split up.

• extermination is swift and painless and takes place next to the pens, making transportation unnecessary and therefore minimising distress to the animals.

• the pen system allows optimum monitoring of the animals. Daily registration of remaining feed on the top of the pens and faeces texture under the pens forms part of the monitoring. mink health is generally good and the scope and intensity of welfare problems are low.

• Kopenhagen Fur relies strongly on research and the myriad results in the welfare of mink. In terms of animals, it is important that we rely on well-established and proven research results. no one can speak on behalf of the animals. only the animals can provide the answers, and that is basically what animal welfare research is all about; asking the animals.

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Very FeW WounDs anD InJurIes

When conditions on Danish mink farms are criticised, criticism is often related to wounds and injuries. It is a widespread myth that wounds and injuries are a major problem. all knowledge and experience in the area indicate otherwise.

In 2010, the Danish Veterinary and Food administration published a comprehensive report on animal welfare in Danish mink farming. the report was prepared by a working group composed of representatives from the Danish Veterinary and Food administration, Kopenhagen Fur, the Danish Veterinary association, the Danish agriculture & Food Council, the Danish ministry of Justice, aarhus university, the Danish plant Directorate and the ministry of Food, agriculture and Fisheries. In other words, the specialist skills and knowledge were substantial. In respect of wounds, injuries and disease, the report concluded:

aarhus university considered the issue again in 2011. In that connection, the researchers collected all available knowledge in the area. this involved collecting data from previous studies where injuries had been recorded, but not computed since the studies dealt with other matters. this means that a vast amount of data exists. these data also show that the issues of biting and injuries are minor.

Checks performed during the autumn when the occurrence of biting and injuries is at its highest showed that less than one per mille, i.e. less than one in every thousand animals, has injuries requiring extermination.

the average mortality rate on a mink farm during the growth season is 1.1%. the growth season runs from weaning of the kits in June until pelting in november. all dead mink are considered by this study, so it also includes mink that have died from various diseases. as mentioned, only few of the dead animals have wounds or varying degrees of injury.

all scientifically based sources reach the same conclusion: the number of unintended deaths, wounds and injuries is very low in mink production and considerably lower than in other animal production.

“The general impression is that the occurrence of disease and death in mink is at a low level, significantly lower than the level for other livestock farming in Denmark”.

expert group of the Danish Veterinary and Food administration

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the entire minK is used.

the remains are converted into bio-diesel and

bone meal used For generating

energy.

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DanIsh mInK Farmers are ChampIons oF WelFare

thus the overall framework for good animal welfare in mink production is given. It is also clear that poor management and failure to observe the rules may threaten the welfare on individual farms. the Danish Veterinary and Food administration has a group of skilled inspectors, who ensure that the rules are observed by making unannounced visits to check the conditions of Danish mink farms. the inspection shows that Danish fur farmers generally manage to provide the required care for their animals. the results of the inspection of the farms are available on the Danish Veterinary and Food administration’s website.

Kopenhagen Fur has chosen to supplement public control measures with the consultancy programme “Check your farm”. all mink farmers in Denmark therefore receive an annual visit from one of the trade’s own consultants, who checks that everything is in order. at the same time, the mink farmer is given the perfect opportunity to discuss any doubts and become updated on current rules and their interpretations. Daily farm operation, also called management, is one of the most crucial factors in ensuring proper animal welfare. the consultants are always available if the Danish mink farmers have any questions, doubts or are just interested in discussing matters with a consultant.

to be able to work with mink, farmers must be trained in managing the animals and their needs. this also applies to casual workers. In addition, in cooperation with a number of agricultural collages, Kopenhagen Fur has introduced mink in the curriculum as a specialising subject.

Veterinarians constitute an important professional sounding board for mink farmers. Veterinarians possess vast specialist knowledge about animal welfare, treatment and infection control. this is knowledge the mink farmers benefit from four to six times a year in the form of statutory health advice visits. Well-managed farms only need four visits, while any problem farm failing to observe legislation and rules needs six visits.

health advice visits have several advantages. animal conditions improve and good animal health receives more attention. mink farmers also experience advantages in the form of better health and infection control on the farms, thereby reducing costs and optimise operations.

to ensure uniform interpretation of the rules and guidelines for e.g. wound treatment, Kopenhagen Fur has prepared an industry code, which was approved by the Danish Veterinary and Food administration in June 2011. the industry code lists requirements and interpretations of rules and ensures farmers and authorities a shared understanding of how to organise day-to-day business on a mink farm.

the industry code is publicly accessible and is updated regularly (Danish only): www.kopenhagenfur.com/branchekode

thousanDs oF Danes VIsIt DanIsh mInK Farms eVery year.

anD they are all WelCome. you Can FInD a Farm to VIsIt

on WWW.DansKemInKaVlere.DK

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mInK FarmIng Is ethICally CorreCt

man has utilised animals as a resource since dawn of times, but our use of animals has differed over times. before industrialisation, for instance, animals were much more important as a labour force than today, while now, with a steeply increasing global population, animals play a far stronger role in the food supply. thus, animals have always been part of our consumption patterns, and we have always used fur to keep us warm.

today, fur is arguably a superfluous luxury product because we have alternative ways of staying warm. this, however, is not a tenable argument. as long as we use animals for various purposes, fur is no different from steaks or wool. the Danish animal ethics Council under the ministry of Food, agriculture and Fisheries writes the following on the issue:

”If fur is basically seen as a product on par with other products we obtain from animals, it becomes difficult to see how fur is distinguishable as a special luxury item. In our society, we surround ourselves with products that are unnecessary for us, which makes the definition of luxurious somewhat arbitrary. It is difficult, for

example, to argue that fur is more luxurious than meat, since our part of the world offers more than ample options for the replacement of both. Furhter,if we choose to extend the discussion to environmental concerns, fur comes off less luxurious than meat consumption, as fur is unarguably a more environment-friendly product than synthetic materials, and meat unarguably constitutes a greater environmental load and poorer energy utilisation of soil than plant production does.”

From an ethical standpoint, it is therefore unfair to label fur as an unnecessary luxury item, unless we apply the same perspective to meat. animal welfare should be high for all animal farming. all animals must be treated properly, while alive, and slaughtered in a humane way. Danish mink farming is regulated by both Danish and eu legislations.

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the mInK Is quICKly anD paInlessly slaughtereD at the Farm. the DeaD mInK Is CooleD For 24 hours beFore the sKIn Is remoVeD. the rest oF the mInK Is useD For bIo-DIesel anD other energy proDuCtIon.

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the entIre mInK Is useD

Fur-animal production regularly meets the prejudice that it is an unnecessary luxury production, in which most of the animal is ultimately discarded. the price of fur undeniably makes it a luxury item, but the remains of the animal are not simply discarded but rather put to sensible use. the fact that mink is fed with animal waste cut from the food production industry is an addition of factor into the equation. Waste cuts that would otherwise have been earmarked for bio-processing. In other words, the fur-animal production becomes a useful link between human food production and waste disposal.

mink are taken straight from their pens into the extermination box. the mink body is stored in a cooling room for up to 24 hours, before being pelted. once the skin has been removed, the mink body is taken for bio-processing at, for instance, Daka bio-industries. Daka processes most by-products from the animal production in Denmark. the aim of the processing is to utilise the by-products to the maximum.

mink fat is used for bio-diesel, which is added to fossil diesel in accordance with eu norms. bio-fuels offer supply security and, not least, reduce Co2 emissions. the eu has adopted a directive committing member states to use 10% renewable energy in their transport sectors by 2020. so far, Daka has exported the bulk of its bio-diesel production to the european market, but the domestic market is expected to take a greater share in the coming years.

the actual mink body is converted into bone meal, which is used as fertiliser or heating fuel. the ash goes to the cement or asphalt industries.

Kopenhagen Fur applies highly

specialised technology to quality-grade

minK sKins.

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global Centre oF Fur sales

Danish mink farmers sell their skins at Kopenhagen Fur’s international fur auctions in glostrup. the skins are thoroughly graded to match skins that are identical. the skins are offered in lots, so that customers can bid for bunches of similar skins. this is paramount as even minute colour variations can be seen in the finished fur garment.

skins are always graded according to the same criteria. First, they are sorted according to type and gender. then their lengths are measured and colour grading begins. a substantial part of the process runs in automated facilities that apply the latest computer technology. after colour grading, the skins are quality graded. Finally, each colour is fine-tuned, at which stage the previous grading steps are also controlled. the skins are placed in bunches or lots as they are called in auction terminology. a lot number is issued for each lot. shortly before an auction, an auction catalogue is prepared, listing the offered lots. the catalogue allows customers to see size, quality denomination and other information that helps them to decide for which items they want to bid.

Kopenhagen Fur’s label system divides quality into four categories. the finest skins are labelled Kopenhagen purple. they are followed by Kopenhagen platinum, Kopenhagen burgundy and Kopenhagen Ivory.

the label system and quality grading build on advanced technology and long-standing experience focused on customer needs. as the world’s only auction house, Kopenhagen Fur is Iso-9001 certified, which ensures uniform and high-quality grading.

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the WorlD’s largest Fur auCtIon

Five times a year, the glostrup auction house transforms into an international microcosm. languages such as Chinese, greek, russian, english, german, Italian, Korean, Japanese and many others fill the air. sometimes, the premises are very crowded, looking more like Copenhagen airport in the rush hour than a Danish workplace in a normally tranquil residential neighbourhood of glostrup.

Five auctions are held in every sales season, which stretches from December, when the skins are newly pelted, to september, when the last skins are auctioned off. each auction is preceded by five to six days of inspection, during which buyers inspect and evaluate the skins. For each auction, 500-600 buyers from all over the world congregate.

Kopenhagen Fur uses knock-downs by gavel to the highest bidder, and when the gavel strikes the podium, the world market price of mink skins has been set. at each auction, as many as five million mink skins are offered along with several other fur types. at a single auction, Kopenhagen Fur can sell skins totalling as much as four billion Danish kroner. at the peak of the auction, skins are sold at a value of DKK 43,000 per second. a knock-down takes place every 9 seconds.

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north america The origin of fur

breeding and still having great appetite for fur

Source: International Fur Federation

the northern hemIsphere aCCounts For the WorlD’s Fur ConsumptIon

FUR CONSUMPTION DISTRIBUTED ON COUNTRIES

Other countries 32% USA 17.3%

China 16.4%

Korea 1.1% Japan 1.2%

Italy 6.5%

Germany 6.4 % Russia 19.3%

north americaThe origin of fur breeding

and still having great appetite for fur

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china The fastest growing

fur market

europe Centuries’ old tradition

of production and fur use

russiaThe world’s

largest fur market

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traDItIonal CraFtsmanshIp

once the buyers have acquired their products, they send them for dressing, which softens and preserves the skins. traditionally, Italy and greece have had extensive dressing industries, but today a great deal of the dressing is performed in the Far east. once dressed, the skins are ready for sewing. a substantial amount of the skins are coloured, and the leather side is often suede processed, nappa processed or printed. the hair side can be plucked or shaved, and patterns can be applied with laser technology. over the past 10 years, trends have moved incredibly fast, and today fur is available in many different shades other than the conventional brown.

DESIGN AND SEWINGthe furrier’s job is to calculate the number of skins needed for a fur coat and in cooperation with the designer decide which technique to use for the selected fur type. a host of different processing methods exists. skin cutting gives the furrier a longer and more uniform piece

of fur with which to work. the skin is cut into 4-5 mm narrow strips that are sewn together according to special methods. taping is a process in which the furrier combines the fur with another material to give the fur a different look. Cutting and taping are the conventional fur sewing methods.

the furriers require great skill and the process is highly labour-intensive. labour costs associated with fur garments are therefore high, and, consequently, much of the processing is concentrated in the Far east, where labour costs are lower.

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the FurrIer traDe Is an anCIent anD traDItIonal traDe. Its tools reFleCt the CenturIes-olD CraFtsmanshIp.

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Fur Changes WIth FashIon

It typically takes a year from the time a skin is up for auction until the finished fur coat is ready for the customer. a substantial part of the world’s fur production is concentrated in northern europe, but the skins are processed and sold all over the world. the largest markets for fur are north america, europe, russia and the Far east, especially hong Kong and China.

a few years ago, the finished fur coats were sold in fur shops, but an increasing share of fur garments are now sold in fashion shops and high-end shopping centres. today, fur is used in many other ways than before and constitutes a more integrated part of fashion houses’ complete service offers. Fur follows fashion trends in both styles and colours.

therefore, fur appeals to disparate target segments, when it comes to nationality, incomes and styles. hip-hop culture is an example, moving from the american underground sub-culture to a mainstream cultural current. Fur played a role from the very outset, when hip-hoppers mixed fur with sagging sweatpants. today, hip-hop culture has replaced sportswear with suits, but fur as a statement is an indispensable part of the whole culture’s look.

this more relaxed way of using fur has made people wearing fur coats and jeans as they pick up their kids from créches a far more common sight. In the evening, cocktail dresses replace the jeans, but the fur coat remains.

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Consumers’ Way through the WorlD oF Fur

Kopenhagen Fur’s quality labels are an excellent help when someone decides to buy a fur coat. the four labels Kopenhagen purple, Kopenhagen platinum, Kopenhagen burgundy and Kopenhagen Ivory guarantee fur garments of premium quality. therefore, consumers should always check for one of the four labels when buying a fur coat, as the label ensures that the fur coat is made from superior quality raw materials.

Furriers and manufacturers sew the Kopenhagen Fur labels into the finished fur garment as a quality guarantee.

A FUR COAT HAS A LONG LIFETIME, IF IT IS TREATED CORRECTLY

1: a fur coat needs to breathe so hang it on a broad hanger with plenty of space around it. avoid hanging the coat in direct light for an extended period. if the coat is covered by a garment bag, the bag must be made of breathable material.

2: if the fur coat becomes wet, shake it and hang it on a hanger in a dry and well-ventilated room. avoid direct heat impact – it damages the fur. when the fur coat is dry, simply shake it out and it is ready for use.

3: have a professional fur cleaner clean the fur coat every year or two.

4: have the fur coat stored by a furrier during the summer. the furrier will make sure that the coat is stored in a cool place at the correct temperature. if you choose to store your fur coat at home, give it the optimum conditions by hanging it in a cool dark room with ventilation.

real Fur Is more enVIronment-FrIenDly than plastIC Fur

Fur is such an attractive product that the petrochemical industry is striving to produce more or less successful imitations in the form of acrylic fur – or, more specifically, plastic fur produced from non-renewable resources like raw oil and natural gas extracted from the subsoil. It is often said that plastic fur is more environment-friendly and sustainable than real fur based on conventional animal husbandry. plastic fur is sold under labels such as ”fake fur” and ”faux fur”. the

fur industry ordered a life-cycle analysis (lCa) to compare the environmental loads from plastic fur and real fur. the comparison shows that real fur is more environment-friendly than plastic fur. the lCa was prepared by Dss management Consultants Inc. and commissioned by the International Fur Federation. It was prepared according to the Iso system and underwent peer review – i.e. a scientific and independent review of data, methodology and conclusion.

The overall conclusions of the LCA are:

• real fur lasts for many years in contrast to plastic fur. as a consequence, more resources go into producing plastic fur that lasts as long as real fur.

• real fur is often reused, a factor that triggers significant environmental advantages.

• real fur is produced by feeding the animals with feed made from residual products, and this leads to more efficient resource utilisation.

• Fat and bodies from fur production can be used to produce biodiesel and fertiliser. this type of resource utilisation benefits the environment.

• through a life cycle of 30 years, corresponding to the estimated lifetime of real fur, plastic fur consumes about 20% more non-renewable resources like oil and gas and triggers 17% higher emission of greenhouse gasses.

Source: ‘A Comparative Life Cycle Analysis: Natural Fur and Faux Fur’ by DSS management Consultants.

See the report at www.furinformationcenter.eu

*Scores are reported in ‘millipoint’ units. Millipoints is an abstract unit used to express diverse types

of potential impacts. Refer to the ‘Impact 2002+’-website, University of Michigan Risk Science Center, for further details.

**The negative millipoint value shows that real fur contributes positively in relation to environment and nature impact.

ECOSYSTEM QUALITY-11.8683**

ARTIFICIAL FURREAL FUR

RESOURCES157.0249

CLIMATE CHANGE113.4507

HUMAN HEALTH98.7944

ECOSYSTEMQUALITY23.8284

HUMAN HEALTH95.7171*

RESOURCES58.4343

CLIMATE CHANGE9.5762

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KiCK - Kopenhagen internatIonal Centre For CreatIVIty

In the heart of Copenhagen, Kopenhagen Fur has set up the creative power centre, KiCk. KiCK develops fur fashion, creates new growth in the fashion sector and is the centre for development, creativity and business.

In 2005, Kopenhagen Fur established the creative workshop Kopenhagen studio, which has since been the prime impetus in fur fashion. Kopenhagen studio invites leading fashion houses and representatives from other creative sectors to develop new ideas and techniques for fur use. at Kopenhagen studio, both established and young upcoming designers work jointly with the studio’s furriers who add craftsmanship to the creations. these collaborative works challenge conventional perceptions about the possibilities of fur. today, Kopenhagen studio is part of KiCK.

the other parts of KiCK are Kopenhagen nexus and Fur Fab. Kopenhagen nexus builds networks across fashion and life-style companies. With its global perspective,

Kopenhagen nexus works across national borders and helps, for example, obtain Chinese investment capital for Danish fashion houses. Kopenhagen nexus also handles relations to fashion companies looking to expand their businesses by using fur in their collections. these include Day birger et mikkelsen and sos sportswear. Fur Fab manages Kopenhagen Fur’s extensive fur garment wardrobe, which contains fur coats sewn by Kopenhagen studio in cooperation with both established designers and up-and-coming talents. the fur garments are lent to magazines, shows and events all over the world.

the trade association Dansk Fashion & textile is also part of KiCK. Dansk Fashion & textile represents a wide range of Danish fashion companies.

Kick is domiciled in the listed a.n. hansen’s mansion, dating back to the 19th century. the mansion was recently fitted out with modern Danish design with respect for the original neo-classic building.

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oh! by Kopenhagen Fur

In 2012, Kopenhagen Fur launched a new Danish fashion brand with international ambitions. oh! by Kopenhagen Fur designs and sells small fur accessories. the brand is intended to show consumers new ways of using fur. For this reason, the collections centre on techniques and material composition.

oh! by Kopenhagen Fur offers fur in unbelievable combinations. the brand processes its items through excellent craftsmanship. accessories for women in the form of for instance small handbags, mobile phone holders, tablet covers and similar form the backbone of the collection, but oh! by Kopenhagen Fur also offers fur garments for men.

Kopenhagen Fur is the world’s largest fur auction house, and Danish fur farmers undisputedly deliver the world’s finest skins. this gives oh! by Kopenhagen Fur knowledge and Danish tradition

of unsurpassed dimensions. Coupled with Danish design traditions, this expertise in skin and quality imbues oh! by Kopenhagen Fur with a sense of the natural and understated so well known from Danish design. the items are luxury designs for everyday uses. Fur is a material that renders a feeling of authenticity and intimacy. there is a saying that fur has a third dimension, one that interconnects what you see and feel, and thus gives you an emotional attachment to the products.

the oh! by Kopenhagen Fur collections are the results of Kopenhagen studio’s yearlong partnership with the greatest fashion houses in the world.

Kopenhagen studio has taught the best designers the craftsmanship of fur, and, conversely, the designers have brought new design ideas to the fur and the furrier crafts. Cooperation and knowledge sharing are the key to oh! by Kopenhagen Fur.

minK sKins account For

one-third oF total danish

exports to china andhongKong.

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DanIsh Fur holDs a unIque leaDIng posItIon In the ChInese marKet

Denmark’s ambassador to China, Friis arne pedersen, has said to the trade magazine Dansk pelsdyravl that ”it is in itself remarkable that unprocessed mink skins are the largest single item that Denmark exports to China. In this context, we have to acknowledge Kopenhagen Fur’s ability to create a name for itself in China and its effect on Chinese understanding of quality.” this statement shows that the success is rooted in many years of targeted work.

through strategic cooperation agreements, Kopenhagen Fur has achieved a unique position in the Chinese market and today, exports of mink skins account for one third of Danish exports to China.

as the first western company, Kopenhagen Fur has concluded a cooperation agreement with the best Chinese university tsinghua on operating the design centre, tsinghua Kopenhagen Fur studio. the centre trains students from the tsinghua design faculty in fur design. Kopenhagen Fur employees and tsinghua university’s own professors conduct the training. In 2010, the agreement was renewed for five years in connection with the Denmark Day at the world exhibition, expo 2010 in shanghai. students from the tsinghua university win a wealth of design awards in China for their fur designs, and these designers represent the future of China’s textile and fur industry.

Finished fur coats in China are chiefly sold through mega shopping malls. these malls contain several hundred stores – all selling fur garments. Kopenhagen

Fur has agreements with the largest fur store malls, which can flaunt the title ”Kopenhagen Fur Certified boutique”. the title covers a close partnership for training of shop assistants. the staff are trained in sales techniques and skin qualities. a mink fur coat can be designed in many ways, and the skill is to create a preference for Kopenhagen Fur’s qualities, which the staff training helps to ensure.

an example of a certified shopping mall is the China Fur market in the city yuyao, a couple of hours’ drive south of shanghai. the mall houses 381 shops that exclusively sell garments produced from mink skin. since its construction in 2002, the value of trade at the shopping mall has been steadily growing. last year, the centre sold 350,000 mink coats, and a large number of the skins were bought at the Kopenhagen Fur auctions. each day, between 5,000 and 7,000 customers visit the mall. a 100,000 square metre extension is in the works.

efficient networking and a keen understanding of the value of strategic partnerships have propelled Kopenhagen Fur into a unique position on the world’s largest growth market. the Danish fur farmers and Kopenhagen Fur were among the first Danish companies to see the opportunities and therefore now hold an uncontested lead.

south-aFrICan namIbIa proDuCes the exClusIVe sWaKara Fur type. the proDuCtIon taKes plaCe In Close InteraCtIon WIth nature anD yIelDs a sIgnIFICant earnIngs ContrIbutIon For the poor Country. the sKIns are exClusIVely solD at Kopenhagen Fur.

If you would like to know more about fur farming or to visit a fur farm or Kopenhagen Fur, please contact us. Kopenhagen Fur also operates a comprehensive website, kopenhagenfur.com, offering visitors daily news from the sector and in-depth information on the industry.

Kopenhagen Fur langagervej 60 DK-2600 glostrup

tel. +45 43 26 10 00 Info@kopenhagenfur.com kopenhagenfur.com

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