Our Story – From the Beginning to Now
Dear Customer,
Thank you for visiting Lars Paustian - International Furs. For three generations, the Paustian family has stood for the production of high-quality fur fashion. Our loyal customers appreciate the careful craftsmanship, our eye for detail, and our open ear for your fur wishes. In 1955, my father Dieter Paustian founded the family business. Continuing the family tradition, I, Lars Paustian, passed my master furrier exam in 1990. Today, in our master workshop in northern Kiel, our master furriers work around the clock with dedication to fulfill your orders.
Whether Singapore, the USA, the United Kingdom, or the United Arab Emirates – we deliver our fur creations all over the world. However, we have not forgotten where we come from: Even after 60 years, we have not forgotten to perform every step with the same attention that my father showed in the early days, laying the foundation for the future.
Not least the keen eye with which we consider the harmlessness of fur origin allows us to speak with a certain pride about the best fur quality on the market. We strictly follow the rules and regulations and see it as our unshakable duty to carry ecological and ethical responsibility. Therefore, there are no furs from East Asian countries (e.g., China, Korea) at Lars Paustian – International Furs. The conditions there do not align with our idea of animal welfare. Instead, we work with the world's leading auction houses: Saga Furs in Helsinki, Kopenhagen Furs in the nearby Danish capital, and NAFA in Toronto. Our master furriers and I personally ensure the quality of the furs offered, to justify the trust our customers have placed in us for years.
At the heart of our company, the large, brightly lit work areas, stand our master furriers. Day by day, they use their skill and creativity to create a product from the finest, densest furs that brings a smile to a customer's face. From blankets to pillows to fur accessories – our repertoire knows no bounds. We are also happy to fulfill your individual manufacturing wishes: Materials, colors, sizes, and designs are entirely your choice. Contact us for personal consultation. We also provide our expertise to interior designers and decorators: In the past, we have completed large projects in cooperation with builders and designers to their utmost satisfaction.
Quality is our highest command. Believe me – you will feel it.
Best regards, your master furrier
Lars Paustian
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Lars Paustian - International Furs
Sophienblatt 63 - 24114 Kiel
Tel.0049–(0) 431- 66 11 39 - 0
We are an official member of the international OA association:
Origin Assured™ – Sign of Responsibility and Transparency
Origin Assured™, or OA (from secure origin), is the latest voluntary transparency program of the fur industry to clearly label responsibly produced fur products for consumers. With the Origin Assured label introduced in 2008, the fur industry has further increased transparency towards consumers. Since 2003, fur designation and origin (name label) have been documented. The new Origin Assured trademark now also informs buyers of quality furs that their fur or fur product comes from a country where national or local regulations or standards are in force in fur production.
Two different labels have been introduced:
- the "Origin Assured Farmed Fur", which stands for farmed furs, and
- the "Origin Assured Wild Fur", which labels wild-caught furs.
The OA mark may only be attached to garments or accessories that are 100 percent OA fur. Compliance with the standards is monitored by the independent Geneva inspection agency Cotecna, one of the world's leading companies for trade inspection, safety, and certification. The OA program is a joint initiative of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) with the auction houses Finnish Fur Sales (SAGA), Kopenhagen Fur, and American Fur Auctions. In addition to labels and tags, there is a brochure for consumers for OA-marked furs. Detailed information about the program, participating countries, and standards can be found at www.originassured.com.
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Fur Harvesters Auction Inc - www.furharvesters.com
North American wild fur auction
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North American Fur Auctions - www.nafa.ca
North American auction house, mainly for wild fur and farmed mink
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Kopenhagen Fur - www.kopenhagenfur.com
Scandinavian auction house, mainly for farmed mink, farmed foxes, karakul sheep, etc.
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Saga Furs - www.sagafurs.com
Scandinavian auction house, mainly for farmed mink, farmed foxes, and recently also for Canadian wild fur
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MIFUR Fieramilano Rho - www.mifur.com
The probably most important international fur fair
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(Fairs and auctions in China and Eastern Europe are no longer attended by us, as the quality standards and animal husbandry conditions do not meet our high standards) With one exception; the wild fur auction in St. Petersburg, Sojuzpushnina (auction house for Russian sable furs)
What We Stand For
The German fur industry is responsible. It must guarantee the impeccable legitimate origin of the natural goods it uses. Therefore, it subjects itself to the following guidelines:
1. The furrier craft and the entire fur industry in the Federal Republic of Germany, their businesses, and each individual employee share with all people the duty of care towards nature, its biodiversity, and its resources.
2. More than others, we are committed to protecting wild animal species from overuse or extinction, as well as the caring husbandry of those animals that humans raise to feed themselves and their pets or to clothe themselves.
3. We acknowledge that economic thinking must also be bound by ethical standards and must take into account human responsibility for nature and its resources. We pursue the goal of preserving these for present and future generations.
4. In our traditional craft, trade, and industry, we use hides of animals to meet the elementary needs of humans for warmth, protection, and adornment.
5. In dealing with domestic and farm animals in general and fur animals in particular, we feel obligated to research their needs and adaptability to breeding and husbandry by humans and to push for consideration of the results in practice under the control of veterinarians. Slaughtering or killing the animals must be free of fear and suffering.
6. We adhere to the laws, regulations, and implementation provisions for animal and species protection. We demand the same commitment from farmers, breeders, hunters, and trappers, on whom we exert moral and economic pressure if necessary.
7. We commit to ensuring and monitoring that no animal species is endangered by our craft and industry. Since we can have little influence on the preservation of natural habitats, we call for clear legal regulations, directives, and controls, as well as their strict enforcement for the protection of species and their biotopes.
8. In the event of proof or justified suspicion of endangerment to species, we are willing to go beyond current law through abstinence or self-restraint. We will support meaningful projects of population assessment of wild animals and behavioral research for kept creatures with financial funding.
In awareness of our responsibility, we commit to adhering to these guidelines and doing everything possible to achieve the goals expressed in them. Anyone who violates these guidelines will be excluded from our community and the associations of the German fur industry, aside from any possible legal consequences.
These guidelines came into effect in 1989. (Source: German Fur Institute)
(We have been a member of the German Fur Institute for many years)