How to Store a Fur Coat So It Lasts Decades

Fur is one of the few garments genuinely made to be handed down. A coat cared for properly can look beautiful for thirty or forty years. The difference between one that ages gracefully and one that dries out and sheds usually comes down to how it is stored. Fur is a natural pelt, and it needs to breathe, hang freely and stay cool. Here is how to store yours so it lasts.

Use a breathable garment bag, never plastic

The most common mistake is the most damaging: sealing fur in a plastic dry-cleaner bag. Plastic traps moisture against the leather backing and cuts off airflow, which dries the pelt and can cause mildew and odour. Fur is skin, and skin needs to breathe. Use a garment bag made of cotton or another breathable fabric, roomy enough that the fur is not compressed. If you want to protect against dust, a soft cloth bag or even a clean cotton sheet draped over the shoulders works well.

Choose a cool, dark, ventilated space

Heat and light are fur’s quiet enemies. Warmth dries out the leather and dulls the hair, while direct sunlight fades colour over time. Store your coat somewhere cool, dark and airy, with a little space around it rather than crushed between winter jackets. A ventilated wardrobe away from radiators and windows is ideal. Avoid attics, basements and boiler cupboards, where temperature and humidity swing too much.

Hang it on a broad, padded hanger

Fur should always hang, never be folded or boxed for long periods, as folding creases the leather and flattens the hair. Use a broad, padded hanger that supports the shoulders and holds the coat’s natural shape. A thin wire hanger digs into the shoulders and distorts them over months. Give the coat room on either side so the fur is never squashed. This keeps the loft and drape intact whether it is mink, shearling or rex rabbit.

Watch the humidity

Fur prefers moderate humidity. Too dry and the leather grows brittle; too damp and it risks mildew. Aim for a stable, moderately cool room rather than anywhere that feels stuffy or damp. If your home runs very dry in winter, keeping the air from becoming parched helps the pelt stay supple.

What to keep away from fur

• No mothballs. They leave a smell that is almost impossible to remove and their chemicals are harsh on the pelt.
• No cedar oil contact. Cedar blocks and heavily oiled cedar can stain and dry fur. Keep them from touching the coat.
• No direct heat or sunlight. Radiators, spotlights and sunny windows all dry and fade the fur.
• No perfume or hairspray on the fur. Alcohol dries the hair; apply fragrance before dressing.
• No tight packing. Crushing fur against other garments permanently flattens it.

Summer storage and professional cold storage

The hardest months for fur are the warm ones. Through spring and summer, heat and humidity in the home can slowly dry a pelt even inside a good wardrobe. This is why furriers offer professional cold storage: a facility kept at a low, stable temperature and controlled humidity, exactly the conditions fur was born for. Alessa’s own fur is designed in Stockholm and made by a family atelier of master furriers who have practised the craft for more than four generations, and cold storage is exactly the kind of care such a pelt deserves. If you own a piece you love, a season in cold storage each summer, ideally paired with an annual clean and glaze, is the single best thing you can do for its longevity. If home storage is your only option, choose the coolest, darkest, most ventilated spot you have and check the coat occasionally.

Frequently asked questions

How do you store a fur coat?

Hang it on a broad, padded hanger inside a breathable cotton garment bag, in a cool, dark, ventilated space with room around it. Keep it away from heat, sunlight, mothballs and plastic. For summer, professional cold storage is best.

Can you store fur in a plastic bag?

No. Plastic traps moisture and stops the leather backing from breathing, which dries the pelt and can cause mildew and odour. Always use a breathable cotton or cloth garment bag instead.

How do you store fur in summer?

Summer heat and humidity are hardest on fur. The safest option is professional cold storage at a furrier, kept cool with controlled humidity. If storing at home, choose the coolest, darkest, most ventilated spot and keep it in a breathable bag away from heat.

Does fur need cold storage?

It is not strictly required, but for a coat you intend to keep for decades it is the gold standard, especially over summer. Cold storage holds the temperature and humidity fur thrives in and meaningfully extends its life.

Store it with care and it becomes an heirloom. Explore the Alessa fur collection, designed in Stockholm and made by four generations of furriers.