Hello, everyone! Many of us have seen the beautiful soft blankets with designs of animals or Indians and just know that they are super soft and warm and cozy. These blankets are called Korean Mink Blankets.
I sell Korean Mink Blankets on ebay, at festivals, at flea markets, etc... Lately, I have noticed that there are a lot of "fakes" on ebay and everywhere! I sell "QUALITY" Korean blankets, I sign on to ebay and see "CHEAP" Korean blankets. My advice, "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BUY!" Let me explain...
Korean Mink Blankets originated in Korea. They are beautiful blankets, usually with designs of animals or solid colors. They hold up beautifully when laundered. They DO NOT shed, they are thick and plush, the designs are vibrant on both sides, and they will last years. They usually weigh between 3-3.5 KGS for a Queen size. Some of the more common brand names are SOLARA, DOLPHIN, and SOLARON.
Within the last couple of years, China has started mass producing blankets that they label "Korean Blanket." These blankets that are manufactured in China are horrible. They shed, they do not hold up through repeated launderings, they are not as "plush" (meaning the pyle is not as thick), the design is vibrant on the front but the back is faded and worn because they use less acrylic then on the front. They usually weigh about 2.5-3 KGS. The most common name of this type of "knockoff" is DRAGON, although some of the higher end brand of Dragon is "Made in Korea."
The way to tell: ASK THE SELLER. They should be honest enough to tell you if they are "Made in Korea"or "Made in China." The ones that are made in Korea will say so on the clear carrying bag and on the insert that contains the picture. The ones that are made in China will NOT say "Made in China" on the bag, they try to be more discreet and usually just say "Made in China" on the tag attatched to the blanket. Although the insert with the picture will say "Korean Blanket" this does NOT mean "Made in Korea."
I hope that this guide helps someone out there who may be wondering, "The blankets look exactly alike but one is sooo much cheaper!" This is why, my advice...."Sometimes quality will cost more up front, but is well worth it in the long run!!"
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions and I will be glad to help you!
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