Family is fur-ever – The Dickinson Press

Sponsored By
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GLADSTONE – During his childhood, Kyle Krebs started trapping. After college, while farming and ranching with his dad, his business grew, but during the pandemic, fur prices dropped severely. A friend encouraged him to try making items with his furs, and the idea led Krebs to create the successful business that exists today: Krebs Kustom Fur.
Shipping items across the country to customers in Vermont, New York, Oregon and other states, Krebs also takes part in vendor shows where his products are showcased in an eye-catching booth. From fur hats made with coyote and badger hides to long, elegant gloves and custom mink hats, the items are environmentally friendly as well as warm, according to Krebs.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Why would you want to wear a petroleum product that will never break down?” said Krebs. “Fake fur starts to look worn out before it wears out, too. It really doesn’t look that great, either. If you’re worried about the environment, fake fur is not the answer. Real fur will actually break down over time.”
Plus, the lifespan of real fur is a bonus for buyers according to Krebs.
“A good fur product will last 100 years if you take care of it,” said Krebs, talking frankly about the way furrier businesses actually work in partnership with wildlife management. He learned the finer aspects of the trade from a mentor who spent three days with him, training him in many furrier skills.
When asked about what he enjoys most about the business, Krebs happily mentioned his customers’ reactions to what he makes.
“I like working with fur,” said Krebs. “Getting to make finished products with fur and see people enjoying them is really rewarding.”
Krebs’ wife, Jamie, who has seen the business evolve over the years also reminded him of the flexibility the business model offers, and Krebs agreed. The couple has three children, all of whom love wearing the items Krebs makes.
“When you’re working with raw fur, you’re working with a much more specific timeline,” said Krebs. “The flexibility of working with fur in this stage works a lot better with my family and raising cattle.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Krebs Kustom Fur has been part of Pride of Dakota since 2023, and Krebs says the organization has been a positive experience. At shows, Krebs meets people from all over the world, including eastern Europe, and says people from overseas are especially ecstatic about their products. Both Jamie and Kyle openly discussed the pros and cons of running a business, including the journey they’ve been on to shape it into something that’s enjoyable as well as an entity that supports their family.
“You really have to go at this with a business mindset,” said Krebs.
Krebs ultimately hired Tabitha Brawner to sew linings, handle website development and help with sales, although Brawner says the arrangement has been positive for her own business, Midwest Momma Boutique. Brawner makes custom Hey Dudes and other items, including elegant art incorporating skulls, bones and flowers. Brawner also talked frankly about the challenges of learning to work with fur, including stitching pom poms for hats.
“I have a lot of respect for pom poms,” Brawner said, laughing. “Making them was a very eye-opening experience. They’re very time-consuming strictly. A pom pom might look simple, but they’re really not.”
“There’s a lot of hand work when you’re making things with real fur,” said Krebs, agreeing. “Even if you are sewing with a fur machine, there are still things you have to do by hand.”
Brawner says people walking past their booth at shows often comment that they think they can just make the items themselves.
“I tell them, ‘yes, you can!’” said Brawner cheerfully. “I say that I’ll happily show them how and that they could even borrow my tools, but it will just take them a lot of time to figure out the process, and maybe then, the price tag will make sense.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Brawner also said going to shows is enjoyable, but something she enjoys most about the job is actually the shared creativity.
“I really like working here,” said Brawner. “A lot of the people we meet at shows are really nice. This job helps keep my own creativity fresh as well, because I’m around likeminded people. It’s very refreshing and welcoming.”
Most of the blankets Krebs makes are custom ones for customers, and he plans the process for making bigger items for after Christmas since so many customers are looking for hats, gloves and ear muffs for holiday gifts. Making a blanket can be complicated due to the process of fitting together the number of hides it takes to create a piece that large. The first king-sized blanket Krebs made was created from bleached raccoon hides. Each customer often requests their own design as well, making it necessary to collect enough of each color or pattern to complete the design. Blankets can be made of coyote or beaver or other types of fur, depending on the customer’s preference.
Want to purchase? Both Krebs and Brawner have items available at A2Z Crafts and Antiques in Dickinson. Check out their websites at https://krebskustomfur.com/ and www.shopmidwestmomma.com .
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

source