FCUSA's new President, Paul Westwood, was the lucky winner of a trip to Russia, raffled off by North American Fur Auctions (NAFA) at the Fur Breeders' Agricultural Co-Op's 2001 Summer School. In the following report, Paul shares the experiences he and his wife Brenda had on an unforgettable trip.

By Paul Westwood, President, Fur Commission USA

MY WIFE BRENDA AND I recently had the opportunity to travel to Russia where we learned, no doubt about it, Russian people wear fur! There is fur on the street, hats, coats, trim on garments, pants and boots. Mink, fox, sable, seal, beaver and more: fur is everywhere in Russia.

The fur farmers, through their auction houses, are involved in promotion around the world of our short-napped, high quality American mink. Brenda and I were able to attend NAFA's October Gala fashion show and witness firsthand some of these exciting promotional efforts in Russia.

Brenda and I left for Moscow the morning of Oct. 4 and arrived the next morning, without any sleep for almost 30 hours! I really admire how the NAFA crew worked through their jet lag, holding a press conference and working 14 to 18 hour days to prepare for the Gala. About fifty people attended the press conference at the Canadian Embassy where Tina Jagros presided (her assistant Eugenia Gladtskova translated to Russian every two or three sentences). Tina gave background information on NAFA and North American mink, fox and wild fur; she showed pelts and passed around garments.

Being professionals, Tina and the NAFA team never used their platform to speak negatively about product from any other source, but they did compare the look and feel of a NAFA Gold black mink garment with one made of European mink as a way of helping the Russians appreciate the quality of short-napped North American mink.

Never ones to waste time, NAFA reps used the weekend between the press conference and the fashion show for a photo shoot, with models posed at sites such as the Moscow train station and the Crystal Bridge. The Crystal Bridge is a stunning new landmark in Moscow, a quarter-mile long pedestrian walkway, fully enclosed in glass, arching over a silver river.

After seeing some of the retail fur trade in Russia, I feel that promotional efforts in Russia are very necessary in order to educate the consumer on why our short-napped North American fur is a great investment in quality.

Brenda and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Russia and our chance to learn a little about the Moscow fur trade. We send our thanks to NAFA for this wonderful opportunity.

Russia at a Glance ...

-- From November to March, mean daily temperatures in Moscow are sub-freezing, with January at 15°F. "Summer" is in July, with a mean of 65°F.

-- In the last crop year Russia produced 3.2 million mink pelts, or 10.9% of world production, up from 3 million a year earlier. (Oslo Fur Auctions)

-- Russia and China are currently the world's largest consumers of mink, fox and other furs, ranched and wild. For the past year, they have dominated auctions and driven ranched fur prices up. "At this point, the Chinese and Russian markets still appear to be expanding at a faster rate than skin production, which would seem to assure that prices will continue strong ..." (Sandy Parker Reports, Oct. 1)

-- Nearly 85% of fur skins imported to Russia are used for hats. Fur trim is also very popular.

-- Three out of four Russians wear a fur coat or jacket in winter, with 80% of fur purchases being made by or for women. In recent years, the trend has been towards high-quality, modern and original designs. Mink is the skin of choice for the well-heeled, with lower income groups buying sheepskin and rabbit. (www.furbusiness.com, Oct. 25, citing a Russian Fur Union study)

-- The latest retail season "has opened nicely in Russia and is heading for a healthy increase over last year." (Sandy Parker Reports, Oct. 29)

-- The International Fur Fair MEXA, now a major fixture on the international fur fair calendar, was held for the seventh time this October, in Moscow. This year's event drew the largest attendance so far, 27,100, making it the world's best-attended fur fair with more than double the crowds drawn by Milan or Frankfurt. However, MEXA's doors are open and consumers are believed to make up the bulk of those counted. (Sandy Parker Reports, Oct. 29)

Weather: Moscow weather reminded me of Seattle; at least it did in October. We saw the sun for 15 minutes in 7 days, not even long enough to figure out which way is north. Rain at the rate of 1 inch per hour was considered balmy weather. The temperature ranged from highs in the 50s and 60s F to lows in the 30s. With high humidity, it felt much colder than Utah, our home. Russians wear fur to keep warm as they walk to and from the train or bus to home and work.

Clothing & Retail: Russia loves fur! Russian buyers may not have been personally present at the pelt auctions the past two or three years but this has not prevented fur from entering the country through other routes, such as via Greece and China. Fur stores are well stocked with all types, colors and designs of mink garments, almost all long napped. Retailers offer a staggering selection of fur hats, handbags, fur and leather coats and trimmed garments. One or more fur stores are on nearly every block of the new Arbot Street and most other streets as well. In one of the largest shopping centers in Moscow, "GUM" (pronounced "goom"), there were 30 to 40 fur stores carrying hats, coats and fur-trimmed garments. Grocery stores were stocked with many varieties and choices, some the same brands available in America.

Food: Besides Russian restaurants, Moscow has a selection of international cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese and French. We ate well. Due to the cold climate, many of the dishes are served fried and heavier than in warmer parts of the globe. The large variety of breads and pastries, made from many different kinds of grains, was terrific.

Transportation and Roads: Moscow International airport is about 50 miles from downtown Moscow and a taxi to/from the airport costs from $20 to $70, depending on how desperate you are and how well you bargain. The airport ceilings are covered in bronze-colored cylinders that resemble the top of garbage cans - combined with an inadequate amount of natural or electric light, this makes the airport a very gloomy place. Most Russians use the subway to get around: one subway trip, with unlimited transfers, costs less than 30 US cents. Buses and trains are available for long journeys. The roads were decent but, due to the extreme temperatures in winter, many needed repairs or had too many potholes and traffic seems to be an international problem. New York taxis have got nothing on the Moscow taxi drivers who transform three-lane roads into five - the lines on the road have no meaning!

Architecture: Many of the old Russian Orthodox churches are incredibly beautiful, decorated with spires topped with globes painted gold or vibrant colors. The interiors showcase intricate woodwork painted brightly or with murals. Some of the new buildings are very nice while others, left over from the communist period, are utilitarian cement behemoths with no grace or style.

People: As Brenda and I strolled the streets of Moscow without our cameras (not looking like tourists!) people came up to us and asked directions in Russian - we fit in pretty well! However, I did notice that many women in Moscow are very tall. Without exception, the people in Russia were very good and kind to us.