Collection: Astrakhan & Persian Lamb

The tight, flat, moiré-patterned curl — sold under several names depending on where it was made and when it was labelled: astrakhan, karakul, Persian lamb, and swakara.

The pelt takes its name from Astrakhan on the Caspian, and from the karakul sheep breed itself; swakara is the trade name used for the South West African variety. The curl lies close and tight rather than standing proud, which is why astrakhan tailors like a cloth: furriers cut it into structured, close-fitting coats and jackets, often with a shawl or notch collar, where a longer-haired pelt would only bulk out.

Each piece here is one of one. When it is gone, it is gone.