Regulars of fashionable fur salons and simply lovers of light, airy and delicate fur products are well acquainted with Rex fur coats. For those who are perplexed and wondering what kind of animal this is, here is a little information.
Rex is a specially bred breed of rabbit, distinguished by its uniform, beautiful, dense fur and special “plushness.”
Fur coats made from improved rabbits are rapidly gaining popularity due to their beautiful appearance, which is not inferior to the best examples from mink, beaver and chinchilla, and their relatively affordable cost.
Rex - what kind of fur is this?
These fur coats are made from a rare breed of rabbits; they were specially bred for the mass production of women's and children's clothing.
The rabbit fur is pleasantly dense, and the wool is evenly short (1-2 cm).
Rex fur qualities:
- smoothness;
- plush softness;
- the fur is completely straight;
- When the sun hits it shines beautifully.
Reference! A new breed of rabbits, “Rex,” was specially bred by breeders; they crossed an ordinary rabbit with a “Royal” fellow from Germany. Rex coats are very similar to chinchillas due to their black-blue tint.
Rex rabbit breed
The Rex rabbit breed was bred by selective breeding in 1919 in France. It is classified as a meat-hide animal, however, the quality of the fur of this animal is paramount. The breed was officially registered in 1925. At that time, its nurseries were located only in France and Germany.
They did not want to sell breeding animals to the Soviet Union. Our livestock breeders, taking rabbits of other breeds to foreign exhibitions, crossed them there with rexes. A dominant gene is responsible for the unusual fur texture. It manifests itself in all offspring of the Rex rabbit, and in the future, by crossing hybrids, a pure breed can be obtained.
Today there are about 30 subspecies within the Rex breed. The main criterion by which they are distinguished is the color and texture of the fur. The determining factor in the emergence of these subspecies was the natural conditions of the places where the nurseries were located.
In breeding, the Rex rabbit is not much different from its counterparts. But keeping animals intended for skins has its own specifics and is labor-intensive. These rabbits do not tolerate well: - high temperatures; - lack of fresh air; - high humidity.
Animals are slaughtered in winter, when the density of their fur reaches its maximum.
Features of rabbit fur
The Rex rabbit is a short-haired rabbit. A feature of its fur is the same length of guard hair and undercoat . This makes it look like velvet or sheared animal skins. The coat should be thick and wrinkle-free. Curly hairs on the skin of a Rex rabbit can only be found in the neck area. Due to the fact that only the skin from the back of the animal is used to make clothes, areas with such texture on the product indicate its low quality.
The most popular natural colors of Rex rabbit skin are: - white; — gray chinchilla; - black.
The first option is more often used for painting. Such skins are used for sewing designer fur coats and decorating clothes.
This material is soft enough that when sewing fur coats from it it would be possible to use styles characteristic of textile products. It is light and warm, which allows it to be used to create models intended for the winter season, without limiting their length.
Unlike a regular rabbit, the Rex rabbit is more wear-resistant and less prone to developing bald spots from friction.
To enhance this characteristic, the fur is additionally cut. Clothes made from such skins can withstand up to 8 seasons . The disadvantage of a Rex rabbit fur coat is that due to the lack of long guard hairs that would protect the undercoat from water, it quickly gets wet.
Features of Rex rabbit fur coats
The main advantage of these fur coats is lightness, which the mouton does not have.
Fur lends itself well to processing. The resemblance to mink and chinchilla opens up huge opportunities for designers at inexpensive prices.
Reference! In terms of warmth, experts compare the Rex rabbit only to mink and mouton. Therefore, modern winter clothes for women and children are made from it.
The only drawback of such a fur coat is its average wear resistance, which is about 2 seasons. Although experts recommend purchasing models with cut pile in natural tones, then it will last up to 5 years, maintaining its original qualities.
How to choose a quality Rex fur coat
When choosing a Rex rabbit fur coat, you need to inspect the product for the same type of fur. It should not have differences in the length of the pile, areas with wavy hair, and areas where the skin can be seen or easily felt.
If there are defects, they are most often located in the area of seams and folds, so these places should be inspected with special attention.
To make sure that it is a rex and not a shorn rabbit, you need to crush the fur a little. It should return to its original state as soon as the pressure on it stops.
If a future purchase is to replace a chinchilla fur coat in your wardrobe, then the first thing you should make sure is whether the color of the rabbit skins is natural. To do this, you should carefully examine the fur to look for areas that are colored incorrectly. If the fur coat is decorated with the skins of other animals, these elements also need to be checked for defects and the quality of painting.
Fashionable styles
Stylish, interesting models are obtained by combining textures and a combination of various shades.
Consider the popular models of fur coats from Rex:
Hooded
Models with a hood are much warmer; you can do without a hat. Therefore, these fur coats are quickly sold out by girls, the fur is beautiful and fluffy, even uncut.
Beautiful combinations with expensive fur create luxurious models .
"Perechka"
The original models are cross-cut fur coats with horizontal stripes laid out with laces.
New technologies make it possible to lay the pile in different directions and in different colors. The chinchilla color and black and blue combinations are especially beautiful.
Rex Rabbit
To extend their service life, Rex rabbit fur coats are shorn. Sheared fur is easy to recognize; it feels like soft plush to the touch.
These models are incredibly popular, especially among young people. They are valued for their velvety feel, resemblance to velor and lightness . They highlight the silhouette well.
Shortened models are now at the peak of popularity.
Autolady style
For fashionistas who drive a car, the most convenient option would be short fur coats. There are models with ¾ sleeves and a drawstring at waist level, so as not to restrict movement when driving a car.
Fashionable models of fur coats from Rex
The original texture of this fur, as well as its relatively low cost, makes it an ideal material for creating designer products. Youth versions of fur coats are often made from Rex rabbit skins.
The most popular products are short-length, straight-cut, made from dyed skins.
Bright colors dominate here and geometric prints are possible . You can find products decorated with patterns, or details made of genuine leather and textiles. Models with a hood are also popular.
Also, analogues of fur coats from more valuable breeds of fur are made from Rex rabbit skins. Due to the fact that this material is visually indistinguishable from chinchilla, products are made from it that replicate fashionable models of expensive clothing.
Often, original elegant fur coats are created from the Rex rabbit. Here you can often find decor in the form of a hood-collar complemented with fox, silver fox or arctic fox fur, the natural color of which is preserved.
The autolady style is very popular - a short, fitted silhouette. The model may have a hood. A fashionable trend is to sew it from fur, which differs in color from the entire product.
Fashionable looks for winter 2021-2022
A Rex rabbit fur coat will perfectly complement both everyday and festive outfits. If the model is classic, then it is suitable for creating a retro style look. A fur coat with a straight silhouette and a geometric print will also go well with it. As accessories you can use a hat with a veil, a handbag made of genuine leather.
It is better to refuse costume jewelry, giving preference to jewelry made of precious metals.
The autolady fur coat model, as well as youth and chinchilla variations, will perfectly complement punk, casual, or folk looks. The first and last options can be complemented with catchy jewelry made of metal or natural materials, or a wide leather belt.
Original shoes and hats will highlight your chosen style. In the first option, preference should be given to a sporty or avant-garde option with an abundance of decor.
The third involves a fur or knitted hat and ugg boots. A casual look requires a minimum of flashy accessories.
Fur colors
Rabbit fur is beautifully dyed in various colors:
- blue (purple, dark green) – for extravagant girls;
- white - for romantics, this is the image of the Snow Maiden;
- black – the natural color of the rabbit without dyeing;
- gray is the classic color of a fur coat, the trendy shade is “orilage”;
- sand, beige - creative shades;
- “chinchilla” - also a natural color, supplemented for beauty with light stripes by the manufacturers;
- Multi-colored (striped) fur coats with contrasting colors are on trend.
Cropped models and crosscuts are distinguished by a special gloss and beautiful shine Similarity to a chinchilla and affordable price are the advantages of fur coats.
Reviews from owners
Rex rabbit fur coats of chinchilla color receive most of the flattering reviews. In terms of protection from the cold, they are not inferior to their chinchilla counterparts, they look no worse, and are much cheaper.
To take full advantage of the latter advantage, buyers prefer domestically produced fur coats sold directly from clothing factories. The only thing that many do not take into account is the lack of resistance of this material to moisture.
No less popular than chinchilla options are custom-cut Rex rabbit fur coats. The lightness of the material allows owners of maxi-length products not to feel the weight of the clothing.
Often the choice is made between the Rex rabbit option and the mink one, taking into account the price and practicality of the purchase.
As for the durability of the product, many buyers claim that with proper care, a fur coat can withstand at least 10 seasons. [Total: 7 Average: 3.9/5]
Description and standard of the Rex breed
The average weight of Rex is from 3 to 4.5 kg. They have a round, elongated body (40-54 cm), an elongated head of small size, and medium-sized, vertical ears. The chest is deep, but narrow (girth 30-35 cm), females have a small dewlap. The bones are thin, delicate and fragile, and the back is narrow, long, and sometimes slightly humpbacked.
The coat is thick, soft, velvety, 1-2 cm long. The paws are straight and thin, the claws match the color of the coat. For 1 litter, female rabbits have 5-6 babies, about 4-5 litters per year. Rabbits have an average growth rate. The weight of a month-old rabbit is 680 grams, at 4 months it weighs 2.32 kg.
Appearance and standard
The weight of adult rabbits varies from 3 to 4.5 kg. The animal has a small elongated head, a strong body 40-55 cm long, and powerful hind (pushing) legs. Rex looks compact; his unusual mustache and kind eyes do not go unnoticed.
Other features and standards of the breed:
- the fur is soft and thick, no more than 2 cm long;
- ears are erect, average length 11-12 cm;
- the eyes are brown, completely matching the color of the claws;
- the bones are thin, indicating the nobility of the breed;
- the hair is soft, small, but very thick.
Physiological features
Representatives of the Rex breed have softer fur than other varieties of rabbits. The guard down is thinner and the same length as the undercoat. There are no sharp transitions in the animal's fur.
Rex has excellent external characteristics, looks good in photographs and resembles a toy. Physiological characteristics of the breed:
- the mustache is short, curved, sticking out in opposite directions;
- the body length of an adult is at least 54 cm;
- ears are set vertically (erect);
- the fur is smooth, feels and looks like natural velvet;
- males have a round and powerful head, females have a slightly elongated muzzle;
- The weight of adults is 4-4.5 kg.
Rabbit fur
The rabbit is soft to the touch and feels like a plush toy. The fur is short up to 2 cm, the same length as the undercoat. If you stroke an animal against the grain, the fur immediately returns to its original position.
Representatives of the Rex breed have no standard colors. Rabbits can be blue, white, black, brown, spotted, etc. There are the most unexpected colors, which become the highlight of Rex.
Rex cheetah has the rarest coloration!
Particularly prized are long-eared castors of brown color with high quality fur. The color of a chinchilla is considered rare; such rabbits look especially elegant and aesthetically pleasing.
Application
Today, mass breeding of Rex rabbits is carried out in China. The skins are supplied mainly for the production of clothing. Fur is often used to imitate the fur of more expensive animals, for example, chinchilla or sheared mink. The use of Rex rabbit fur in knitting is also popular: the skins are cut into strips 0.5 cm wide and used as threads to create knitted clothing.
Rabbit fur for knitting is an excellent option for making warm winter clothes.
The noble shimmer of silky Rex skins serves as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for fashion designers. Italian company Heresis uses chinchilla-colored rex rabbit trim in its natural wool coats. Despite its incredible resemblance to an expensive chinchilla, a coat with a rex is much cheaper. Moreover, a long service life is quite capable of adding more points to him.
History of the origin of the breed
Probably each of you has heard this phrase - Rex rabbit. How is it different from an ordinary rabbit, and why does it have such a name?
The ancestors of the Rex rabbit are representatives of the Belgian breed. The animals first appeared in 1919 in France. For a long time they remained unnoticed, and only in 1924 they were presented at an exhibition in Paris and aroused universal admiration and mass love. After this event, Rex rabbits were distributed throughout Europe, Asia and America, becoming inhabitants of farmland and favorites in the home.
Rex in Latin means king, king, which corresponds to the quality of the skin of this domestic animal. The rabbit appeared as a result of a mutation in the genome of the Belgian giants. It acquired its final appearance after a long selection of representatives of domestic and wild breeds.
In 1988, another variety of the breed appeared called the Mini-Rex.
