The key fur centres in China – Haining, Yuyao, and Daying – welcome visitors every year as part of their fur exhibitions. From 8 to 10 August, the latest fashion fur event took place in Yuyao.
A month earlier, we attended the exhibition in Haining, and the key takeaway was that the trend for using sable in products remains strong. The exhibition in Yuyao both confirms and, at the same time, challenges this observation.
•Fur trends in China: Haining Fashion Week and a look ahead / August 21, 2026
•The sable trend takes shape — the Yuyao exhibition / August 15, 2025
Fur for everyday wear
The exhibition featured many well‑known major Chinese brands, as well as a number of local manufacturers from Yuyao itself. Compared to the stands in Haining, sable items were on display in far smaller quantities. Sable also played a less prominent role on the catwalk, which serves as the main platform for fashion brands.
It’s worth noting that the key material driving the use of natural fur in the fashion industry is, of course, mink – it’s more affordable than sable. Products made from mink were by far the most widely represented. A bold design approach that transforms a classic, formal mink coat into a practical anorak‑style jacket – with elasticated details and a hood – is no longer a novel idea (we’ve been seeing this trend quite often lately), but fashion events in China are now firmly establishing it as mainstream. Chinese designers are even offering reversible versions of these items, presenting them as something that can fit into the active, sporty lifestyle of a modern person.
It’s worth noting that the key material driving the use of natural fur in the fashion industry is, of course, mink – it’s more affordable than sable. Products made from mink were by far the most widely represented. A bold design approach that transforms a classic, formal mink coat into a practical anorak‑style jacket – with elasticated details and a hood – is no longer a novel idea (we’ve been seeing this trend quite often lately), but fashion events in China are now firmly establishing it as mainstream. Chinese designers are even offering reversible versions of these items, presenting them as something that can fit into the active, sporty lifestyle of a modern person.
Chinese furriers are also increasingly showcasing their ability to work with the material in a more precise, detail‑oriented way. A coat that combines fur in different colours, mimics floral patterns, and features inlaid coloured stones looks unusual – but in an interesting way.
Another design, quite intriguing in its own right, moves beyond everyday wear. Rethinking how natural fur can be used gives rise to products intended for special occasions – for example, a fur dress where mink again takes centre stage.
Another design, quite intriguing in its own right, moves beyond everyday wear. Rethinking how natural fur can be used gives rise to products intended for special occasions – for example, a fur dress where mink again takes centre stage.
The Chinese auction as a key indicator
The days following the exhibition coincided with the Chinese auction of dressed fur at Sunjoy Furs, which operates exclusively online. The lots included 200,000 mink pelts, 7,500 fox pelts, and around 1,000 sable pelts. The available stock made it possible to put together strong lots of mink and fox, while the sable pelt lots were assembled in mixed batches and included various defects, not limited to adjacent grading groups: a single lot could contain pelts classified as standard, minor defect, and medium defect. Perhaps for this reason, the sable pelts were sold less successfully. In any case, the goods are already processed and can wait for the right moment for a long time without losing quality if stored properly.
Conclusion
Despite the strong presence of mink products and other more budget‑friendly natural materials, it would be premature to conclude that sable is losing popularity. The Yuyao exhibition simply showcases a more modest representation of sable, which explains the greater focus on more affordable materials. It’s important to recognise that the entire natural fur segment is moving along an upward trajectory, and its growing integration into everyday life is a key indicator for assessing future prospects.
Buyers report placing bulk orders for new items with Chinese manufacturers, and there is currently demand for sable pelts; it seems the market is ready to continue operating within the current price range.
Buyers report placing bulk orders for new items with Chinese manufacturers, and there is currently demand for sable pelts; it seems the market is ready to continue operating within the current price range.
