A second act for downtown Orlando’s iconic furrier LaBelle Furs
A fixture on Orange Avenue, LaBelle Furs is run by the great-grandson of the man who founded the business in 1919. Alex LaBellman is enthusiastic about his profession, having devoted himself to the fur trade for decades.
Now 50, LaBellman does much of his business on the road. “I stay in a Holiday Inn 150 to 200 nights a year."
He’s not selling furs in Buffalo, New York; Plano, Texas; or South Florida. The bulk of the business now is in restyling existing furs.
The nationwide tours draw crowds, he said, often of grandmothers wanting something new made with their fur coats — things like teddy bears, rabbits, vests, purses, pillows and throws.
“Grandmas come to us with their fur that they haven't worn in a while and want us to make pieces for their daughters and granddaughters,” said LaBellman. “It's about a 12-week process to get it from the original to the finished product, and it means so much to them.”
