FASHION: Comeback

One industry that almost foundered in the postwar prosperity is the U.S. fur business. In 1946 furriers had nearly $500 million in retail sales. But success attracted thousands of fly-by-nighters who tricked out rabbit, skunk and black Manchurian dog under such misleading names as Arctic seal, Alaska sable and Belgium lynx. As burned buyers learned to fear the fur, the trend to suburban living—with its more casual dress—trimmed the market more. Women also became choosier. Many passed up muskrat, squirrel, and other less expensive furs for good cloth coats—or waited until they...

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