If I had to describe internationally acclaimed fur designer Eggert Jóhannsson, the man behind the respected label Eggert Feldskeri (Eggert the Furrier) located in Reykjavik, Iceland in five words, they would have to be talented, passionate, dedicated, creative, and kind. For the past 30 years he has honed his craft becoming one of the top 100 furriers in the world, a member of Kopenhagen Fur - The Purple Club, and attracting a loyal clientele for whom a trip to Iceland is time well spent for his high standards and custom designs.

Some people know what route they will travel young in life; such is the story of Eggert Jóhannsson. He grew up in Reykjavik and became a sailor at age 14, working as a fisherman on a ship that traveled to Germany and England where they sold fish. During one such trip, the ship docked in Bremerhaven, Germany where he saw a fur shop with an exotic display of zebras, ocelots, and minks, which for him was not only fascinating, but also life changing. From that moment, he decided that he wanted to spend his life working with fur. He realized his dream when he was 17 years old, and with the help of his father's business connections, went to London to work as an apprentice at the atelier of the renowned furrier Jack Marcel on Bond Street. For two years he studied with Mr. Marcel, like the old days of the craft guilds, learning his trade from a master craftsman.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Eggert continued his international training in Sweden, attending school in Tranås and working with master furrier Doris Stille, followed by additional training with master furrier Lars Ake Hankell. In 1977 opened his shop in Reykjavik, and his commitment to his profession and to his clientele is the story behind his success. He is a member of IFTF and  Kopenhagen Fur - The Purple Club, an elite "alliance of the most exclusive fur retail boutiques in the world." The boutiques have been carefully selected between hundreds of candidates to ensure the highest quality of service and knowledge. The members of The Purple Club are all trendsetters. At these boutiques the service is at the highest level, the superior quality of the fur coats is unique and the designs are exceptional. The featured collections are by high profiled fur designers including the members themselves. A fur coat from one of these boutiques is not just a garment - it is an experience."

Eggert Feldskeri

I first met Eggert Jóhannsson in 2007, two years after he had designed a strapless lambskin dress worn by Miss Iceland in 2005, which is among his long line of design achievements in an industry that requires talent, passion, dedication, hard work, creativity, and the ability to withstand the trends of time. From the minute I met Eggert I was impressed by him and his work. He is someone who is proud to be able to represent his country, and "to make genuine things. I like things to be perfect, and I go to great length to make things perfect." Regarding his work, he stated that for him to work with something, he must have passion. "If I was not passionate, I would not be doing this work."

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Meeting with Eggert again in September 2009 in Reykjavik, he remains true to his vision, his craft, and his clientele. His custom creations are handcrafted with attention to detail and with pride and are made to be worn for a long time. When working with his clients to create a custom design for them, it is important to find out exactly what the client wants, and also to advise them about what can and cannot be achieved, because when you purchase an expensive coat, you want it to last, and not be in and out of fashion quickly.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

One of the interesting challenges that he faces when designing a fur coat is that many clients want a coat with a very narrow cut. When it comes to designing with fur, it is important to realize that fur does not drape in the same way that cloth does, and that a fur coat should be cut roomier than a cloth coat. Instead of cutting a coat narrower, if a client wants a sleeker look, it is important to consider the type of fur used, and what look that the client is hoping to achieve. Belonging to The Purple Club, he has access to The Kopenhagen Purple label skins, which are the best quality mink, swakara, chinchilla, and fox furs, and he likes to work with wild fur skins.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Many of the fur skins that you see on the market today are farm raised, and as an example of the difference in furs, wild mink skins are lighter in weight than farm raised mink, and they also have thicker under hair and longer top hair than farm raised mink.

The process for creating a custom coat begins with a consultation, followed by the selection of furs, the creation of the design, and the crafting of the coat. The process from start to finish takes around one month, depending on the availability of the fur, although a coat can be made within 2-3 weeks if necessary depending on what is required. When the coat is completed, the client can either return to pick it up, or it can be shipped to them anywhere in the world.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Always a trendsetter, he was one of the first designers to use what is now known as ocean leather, namely salmon, perch, and cod, which he uses to create jackets as well as to add interest in the form of trim to his unique fur designs. He is someone to whom nature is very important, and he loves spending time outdoors with his Icelandic horses, which is a passion that I, too share. For him, it is important that he use the natural resources that have always surrounded him, and not to discard valuable things. His latest endeavor is using the skin from lambs that died in birth or shortly after, as the skin and wool are beautiful, yet previously would have been discarded, and now have a purpose.

His shop is like a candy store for fashionistas only better for your waistline, there were many designs that caught my eye including a belted top-quality mink parka from The Kopenhagen Purple Club collection, as what makes this striking coat so interesting is his use of perch trimmings and toggles inside the sleeves that can be adjusted to vary their length, and a belted mink with Russian sable with stunning lapel details, also from The Kopenhagen Purple Club.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Another of his creations that I loved was his all out glamour look, a top-quality opulent full length wild mink coat with what he calls a "paparazzi hood" that you can pull up, slip on a pair of sunglasses and travel incognito, and features a gorgeous hand painted silk lining with Viking ships reflecting Iceland's history by Icelandic artist Sigrún Shanko.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Another fur that caught my eye and required me to try on was a tinted wild mink fitted swing coat with bell sleeves that also featured a gorgeous hand painted silk lining depicting Runes used between the years 700 - 1000 by Sigrún Shanko.

Fashions by Eggert Jóhannsson

Eggert Jóhannsson is one of the foremost professional designers in his field and creates bespoke furs for men and women, as well as offers prêt-à-porter coats, jackets, and other fur accessorizes. He specializes in high-quality mink, lamb, and wild skins, and always has a new idea that he is working on in his atelier. If fur is your passion, a visit to Eggert Feldskeri should be on your Reykjavik "must visit' list.

Eggert Feldskeri
Skólavörðustígur 38
101 Reykjavik, Iceland
Telephone:       + 354-551-1121
Fax:                  + 354-551-1355
Email:              This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.Furrier.is 

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