Most of us know this cosy headgear as the Russian fur cap, but the technical name for the hat is 'Ushanka' – deriving from the Russian word for ears, “ushi”. The design is made to keep the cold out with two flaps that cover the ears that are tied together under the chin. Traditionally, the ushanka was made from cheap sheepskin, rabbit or muskrat fur. Artificial fur hats are referred to as “fish fur” since the material doesn’t come from any real animal.

The modern ushanka design first appeared during the Russian Civil War, introduced by Admiral Alexander Kolchak who ruled in Siberia. In Norway, there’s a variant of the ushanka called ""bjørnefitte"", which literally means “bear’s vagina,” and is considered an insult in most parts of the country.

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