The founder of Hayley's Vintage Clothing and Jewelry, Hayley Ninnis has a longstanding passion for accessories and fashions of past eras. Hayley Ninnis is currently learning how to refurbish vintage furs as a way of recycling old clothing that would otherwise be locked away in the closet.

Refurbishing an area of an old mink coat that has torn begins with selecting a place to open the lining along a seam that offers easy access. This is similar to performing surgery in the sense that the opening should be large enough to get hands and tools inside without permanently harming the lining.

Fur is heavy, and a leather patch is typically the best material to use for the repair. Cut the piece of leather so that it fully covers the ripped area, and prepare the coat by brushing the fur away. Next, pull the seams together and coat the rough side of the leather patch with cement. Setting the patch lightly on top of the repair area, make sure to arrange the garment edges in place before pressing down. As you push the patch down firmly, use a paintbrush to cover any patch edges that may have been missed. Give the leather a day to fully bond and dry. The next day, carefully clip strands of fur that may have come into contact with the glue. Finally, restitch the lining.