Furrier Tape / Cold Tape

Vintage Friends

Vintage Friends

VFG Member
Hi, after seeing some notes from a few years back in the forums here and watching some Youtube videos, I am ready to tackle repairing some seam rips on a long 1970s fur coat. I'm trying to find "furrier tape" online. It appears to also be called Cold Tape (no idea why). Can anyone recommend a brand of furrier tape or tell me where to find it? Not having much luck. Thanks! Melinda
 
I found some, a brand called Lanas, and it seems they only sell it direct from their website. https://lanasfur.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=cold+tape

From what I can see, this tape is used to stabilise the fur and prevent tearing while you are sewing, and then is removed afterwards - is that what you saw in youtube?

I'd be interested to see the videos you found.

I have a 1960s sheepskin coat that I love but is falling apart, and the leather kept tearing when I tried to repair it. I was about to let it go, but this might be the answer.
 
Last edited:
I had seen the Lana's brand, too, but I sure don't need 50 yards of the tape. I'm still looking. I watched a number of youtube videos but liked this one best:
 
Ooo, furrier tape is apparently also called "Style Tape" - here's another source, except I want to find a wider width.
https://pandatrim.com/products/style-tape-3-16-1-4-3-8-5-8-1?variant=32297162473585

Actually, I just realized that what the person in the Russian video seems to be using for tape looks just like medical adhesive cloth tape. I've spent way too many hours trying to find a wide enough cloth adhesive tape online and will just experiment with the medical tape I already have in the bathroom. Ha ha! It's flexible and should work very well.
 

Attachments

  • medtape.jpg
    medtape.jpg
    48.7 KB · Views: 223
Last edited:
Vintage Friends said:
. It appears to also be called Cold Tape (no idea why).
Click to expand...

typically when (regular) tape gets cold, it tends to lose the stick-ability and doesn't work as well. i would imagine since a fur is (only) worn in cold weather, perhaps "cold tape" refers to a specially formulated tape that continues to hold things together, even when it's cold.
 
Vintage Friends said:
I had seen the Lana's brand, too, but I sure don't need 50 yards of the tape. I'm still looking. I watched a number of youtube videos but liked this one best:
Click to expand...
thanks for this - very interesting. So unlike what I read, she leaves the tape in place, which seems much more likely to be successful. I'm going to see if I can save my sheepskin coat. The issue I have is that the tears are all at stress points where fasteners are attached. Re-enforcing with tape might give it a few more years... I was getting ready to cut it up and turn it into a rug!
 
I searched the leather working category of etsy, which gave me some interesting results.

This looks like similar tape (from a UK shop). I've ordered some. Less than £10 including shipping for 3/4 inch wide, so I'll soon have 50 meters of the stuff! I have a leather bag to repair, as well as the coat, and I think it'll be useful for both.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1333424216/tex-band-100-reinforcement-adhesive

This also looks useful, sheets of leather reinforcement (USA)
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1248099713/texon-black-reinforcement-sheets-leather

Retro Ruth said:
Here's another, from Europe (better for me), made in Germany, and much cheaper:

https://www.globalsewingsupplies.com/sewing-notions/fabric-adhesive-tape-9mm-09-174
Click to expand...
This shop is based in Greece, and looks good, but they have a EUR 20 minimum order, plus shipping, so I'd only use them if I needed quite a few things I could only get there.
 
Last edited:
Hi there, 1st time post - I know this is an old thread but i wanted to tell you what I have learned about cold tape/furrier tape.
I was watching a Kenneth King video and he was using cold tape in the build of fur coat. The reason why it sometimes referred to as "Cold Tape" is because is sticky on one side and you place it down "cold" on the fur (or stretch knit). No ironing required - you really shouldn't iron faux or real fur. You DO sew through & it is there to stabilize the seam & you DO leave it in. A much cheaper DIY alternative is bias tape & white glue. Takes a bit longer but is essential the very same thing. I hope this helps
 
Kizzy said:
Hi there, 1st time post - I know this is an old thread but i wanted to tell you what I have learned about cold tape/furrier tape.
I was watching a Kenneth King video and he was using cold tape in the build of fur coat. The reason why it sometimes referred to as "Cold Tape" is because is sticky on one side and you place it down "cold" on the fur (or stretch knit). No ironing required - you really shouldn't iron faux or real fur. You DO sew through & it is there to stabilize the seam & you DO leave it in. A much cheaper DIY alternative is bias tape & white glue. Takes a bit longer but is essential the very same thing. I hope this helps
Click to expand...
Thanks Kizzy! I still haven’t got around to using my cold tape, so I appreciate the tips.
 
Cold Tape - Retro Ruth is probably right about it referring to non-iron on tape. Adhesives are reported to harden leather over time so I would be cautious about leaving them on; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=xKsPJVVzj_c The images of the tape on Lana's Furs site are similar to those on other providers sites.

Heat applied interfacing for leather is available which does not harden, if you do a Google shopping search for e.g. Vilene LE420 Interfacing

I plan to experiment with applying beeswax and/or lanolin to old hides to see if this strengthens the leather enough to prevent stitched fur repairs immediately tearing out again behind the new stitching - probably safest to avoid any leather dressing containing hydrocarbons.

Re. Vintage Friends original problem please see The Fur Book, Kaplan, https://www.cuttersguide.com/pdf/Misc/the-fur-book.pdf
Kaplan advises 'spotting'; replacing damage by cutting out an angular shaped patch and replacing the damaged fur with matching patch of good fur cut from the facings or other non prominent area and then 'spotting' back using the damaged fur.

Re. Kizzy "you really shouldn't iron ,,, real fur' - hmmm... well, good safe advice but please, do read Kaplan! Kaplan describes repairs to coats which have stretched over someone's butt ... by ironing to shrink the fur ... and then sewing on twill tapes in a diagonal pattern to 'stay stitch'' the repair. I do agree that 'you really shouldn't iron ... or steam real fur ... without knowing exactly what you are doing!'

https://fur.ca/fur-trade/making-a-fur-coat/ - Making Fur Coats
https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/89fc9d2b-e3a2-4a79-9454-be784879a644/content - Advice on Cleaning
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top