Greece is famous for the selection and quality of its fur products
In clothing stores – collections of famous designers at ridiculously low prices, and also pay attention to leather goods made in Greece. The most famous place for such shopping is Ermou Street (Greece, near Syntagma Square). And in the shops located between the central shopping districts and the outskirts of the city, you can buy clothes created by young Greek designers at very low prices.
But besides all this, Greece is one of the largest producers of fur products. The center of their manufacturing is the city of Kastoria, located in the northwest of the country. Traditionally, the best places for fur shopping are Kastoria itself, the capital of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki, and the resort town of Paralia Katerini.
So why do many people go abroad for a new fur coat? It's simple: the price of a new fur coat of the latest design and high quality is significantly cheaper than at home. Probably none of us realize how seriously Greece is involved in the fur business. Hence entire valleys dotted with little shops everywhere. And there is certainly plenty to see!
Furs in all their glory and diversity: fashionable denim jackets trimmed with arctic fox fur, plucked mink, sable. You won't see the concept of 'sale' anywhere here because there is no seasonality for ready-made fur products in Greece. Shops here are open on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from nine to three (in summer from half past eight), on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from nine to three (in summer from half past eight) and from half past five to half past eight (in summer until nine). Supermarkets are open Monday to Saturday from eight to eight. Which, by the way, is useful to know: shop opening hours sometimes change without notice, but in tourist areas shops may stay open longer.
So go ahead and shop, especially since the quality of Greek fur products is valued worldwide! In this country, twice a year, in September and March, auctions are held where pelts are purchased for making new products.
I would like to tell in more detail about the fur kingdoms of Kastoria and Katerini-Paralia.
Kastoria is the center of fur production in all of Greece; there are over two thousand factories here, and most of the local population works as 'furriers'; there are even entire generations of representatives of this profession. These factories have showrooms where tourists are taken who are ready to purchase some fur product.
Advice to tourists who came to Greece to relax but want to buy a fur coat: ask your guide to arrange an excursion to one of the places where they are produced. And if the purpose of your trip is specifically a fur coat, choose a fur tour, but definitely without an obligation to buy. This will cost you 14 thousand rubles: tickets, visa, transfer, and hotel. And the bonus will be evening excursions and dinners in Greek tradition. Cheap and cheerful, what can you say! The main thing is to bargain with the sellers, and you will definitely come out ahead.
If you happen to be unlucky enough to book a fur tour with an obligation to buy, be prepared. Let this trip cost you almost nothing except for the need to arrange a visa on your own, but before departure you will be required to sign a contract obligating you to buy at least one fur coat worth at least €1000. And if you are really unlucky and you have children from the age of two with you, then fork out – you'll have to buy a fur coat for each of them as well. Don't be surprised that the trip is so cheap – the costs of your visit to Greece are paid for by several fur factories. And if you happen to fail to fulfill the terms of the contract, you will return €400 to the tour operator. Such a tour is beneficial if you plan to buy two or more fur coats; when purchasing the first one, you will be given a discount on all subsequent ones.
The best and most attractive place for tourists in this city: the trade and exhibition complex 'Edika', about 80 thousand fur coats are hung here, in a huge building, in twelve halls.
Katerini-Paralia does not have such splendor on its territory, but this wonderful town has something to boast about. Not only are prices lower here than in Kastoria, but the assortment is slightly richer. From the church along the main street there are shops with furs and various goods, numbering in the hundreds. Moreover, this town is a resort; you can take a break from shopping by lying on one of the azure shores of the Aegean Sea. And make your next destination the famous Athens, located just a hundred kilometers away. Inexpensive hotel rooms (€30 per night), helpful staff who speak Russian, and no problems with currency (euro, dollar) will not leave you indifferent.
In conclusion, I would like to publish approximate prices for fur coats in Greece. We hope this information will be useful to you.
Black fox (short fur coat) – €1200-1800
Mink short fur coat (pieces) – €900-1300
Central mink short fur coat – €1600-3500
Karakul (short fur coat) – €900-1200
Crystal raccoon – €1000-1500