Inherited 1950s laides fur coat

[OlderMumSJ]

I have inherited a below the knee length bear (I believe!) fur coat with matching hat, originally made in the 1950s for a family member coming over from a sweltering Texas to be married in freezing England. It is still in great condition but I know that the market is no longer there for real fur, and I don't know what to do with it. I don't want to cut it up for teddy bears, cushions etc but not sure what else to do. Any advice/ideas gratefully received. Many thanks.

There are places that will take it off your hands op.

Unfortunately there very much is still a market for real fur in some circles. I have my nans knee length mink coat which is absolutely beautiful. Not ready to part with it yet but when I do, I do not want those mink to have died to stuff cushions!

Would much rather sell it to someone who will wear it imo.

I have a friend who collects fur clothes if you want rid let me know and I can connect you.

Places like this op, if you have a Google.

I think I’d just wear it. Where I live it wouldn’t cross people’s minds that it was real fur.

I donated mine to a theatre company for their costume and props department.

Some family members inherited loads and passed them to a charity that send them out to people in poverty in really cold parts of the world. Not sure if that's still a thing as it was a long time ago.

EBay. There is a very big vintage clothing market out there and at events like Goodwood Revival you see loads of second hand furs for sale.

If you don't want to wear it, sell it to someone who will.

There will always be people who want to wear fur, so as long as there are vintage items out there, at least they won't be killing animals to make new ones.

You could sell it and donate profits to a charity that protects wildlife habitats. That would be my preferred strategy.

There are many restrictions for selling fur on eBay, and they have banned the sale of bear fur.

If it was fox, mink etc it would be easy enough to sell, just not for much. But I'm not entirely sure on the legalities of bear fur.

It sounds beautiful, I'd keep it and wear it.

Ditto

Sadly long dead but my aunt used to repurpose fur coats for animal beds as a charity enterprise. People would donate their coats to her and she would make the beds and blankets/throws and ask them to donate to a local animal
charity in lieu of payment.