Advice sought on earliest faux fur fabrics & dating faux fur bolero jackets

Hello, I am new to the VFG forums. I have been collecting for around 25 years (since I was about 15) and I am currently selling most of my collection online. I have hit a wall with faux fur fabrics. There is a type of fabric that I am very familiar with from 20s/30s garments. It consists of a hessian type loose weave fabric with hairs attached. It looks a little like velvet. I read about the earliest faux fur being invented in 1929 and that it was made using alpaca hair. I am currently listing two garments made from this mystery fabric (hessian backing with individual hairs or fibres) I am wondering if this is the alpaca faux fur, or perhaps it's a precursor of the alpaca hair version that I do not yet know the correct name for. I would be extremely grateful for any further information on faux furs in the 20s and 30s, and earlier, if applicable. Also, if anyone can nail the age of the two garments in question with greater accuracy, that would be wonderful! I am thinking 30s for the animal print bolero jacket and I am slightly thrown by the black bolero. It may be 30s but could be earlier. It seems to be cut for a large bust and it looks early in construction. Many thanks in advance & best wishes, Anna

 

The black jacket may be made from cotton backed plush. The pile is longer/taller than velvet. From a distance it can look like a short fur.
Marian

 

Marian,

Thankyou so much! It really helps to speak to people with more knowledge. I can only get so far with book/internet research when it comes to fabrics. I will research plush. Anna

 

That's wonderful to have the fabric confirmed & the dates. I am so very grateful! Anna

 

Just wanted to add that faux fur fabrics have been around since the late Victorian times, much earlier than 1929.

 

Thankyou Barbara! I was confused when I read that particular except on the VFG fabric resource. I felt sure I had seen earlier faux furs so it's good to have this confirmed. I'm very grateful.

 

Thankyou again Mary Jane!

 

I have seen faux fur from the Regency period, so there have been attempts to recreate fur for a very long time.

 

Jonathan, that's fascinating. The earliest we've had in inventory would be 1890s or so.

 

There is a sample of a fur printed silk-napped fabric for making men's vests in one of the issues of Ackermann's repository (c. 1810) in our library

 

Jonathan, I once saw a leopard print in the Williamsburg dress shop that prompted me to ask about animal prints that far back. I had no idea they existed, but when I got home from that trip, I looked them up. Here's the kind of thing -

https://www.pinterest.com/sewloud/18th-century-leopard-print/?lp=true

So much fun!

April

 

Thanksyou Jonathan, it's amazing to think Faux fur has been around for 100s of years!

 

Hi Mary Jane,

I just looked up 18th century leopard print to get that link, and someone's Pinterest page showed in the results. Here's what I Googled:

https://www.google.com/search?q=18th+century+leopard+print

Hope this helps!
April