Marabou Feather Boas and Boa Strings

Our Selection of Marabou Feather Boas & Boas Strings

Here is our selection of marabou feather boas and boa strings for sale. As you can see in the photo, the feather boas are a little thicker, whereas the feather boas strings are a little slenderer.

Marabou Feather Boas (hot pink, above in image): two yards long and about 2-3/4" in diameter. Available in white, black and a variety of colors.
Marabou Feather Boa Strings (turquoise boa, bottom in image): two yards long and about 1-3/4" in diameter. Available in white, black and a variety of colors.

What Are Marabou Feather Boas?

Marabou feathers are the soft down part of the bird and is often a replacement for fur in the fashion industry. And in general, marabou describes a certain type of down feather trimming. The name "marabou" takes its name for the marabou stork, whose undertail down once provided the feathers. Marabou feathers have been used as early as the Eighteenth Century in order to make feather boas and trimmings. And more recently white turkey feathers have become the replacement for the stork.

Currently, marabou is most popular for its clothing garments, feather boas, millinery and jewelry. And oftentimes, marabou feather boas are fashion accessories worn around the neck or draped over the shoulders. These feathers are made from long, fluffy feathers that are attached to a cord or ribbon. The feathers used to make marabou feather boas are typically sourced from the Marabou Stork, which is a large bird native to Africa.

One of the advantages of marabou is that it takes dye well, which makes it a versatile material with lots of color options. Use it for the trim on a dress and it makes for an effective substitute for fur.

Marabou Boa Strings

Boa strings are similar to feather boas, but are made up of individual feathers that are strung together. These feather strings are great for a variety of applications, including costume design, hat trimmings, and other decorative purposes. In many instances, marabou is sold "strung" together, which means that the butt ends of the feathers are sewn together into a neatly aligned bundle. This is done to keep the feathers together during the dying process and also makes for neater packaging.

Using Feather Trim

Create fabulous feather trim with it for stunning looks in handbags and hats. The marabou feather boa trim is typically attached to a 1/4" ribbon in the center back. Use the trim as a removeable embellishment and attach with hook and loop fasteners or snaps. The marabou feather boa trim itself is not colorfast and should not be laundered.

Uses For Marabou Feathers

Marabou feathers have been mainly used for fashion purposes. It started out as a very popular trimming application from the 18th century and on. Many use it to trim hats, but it is also used as the popular fashion accessory of a feather boas. Marabou feathers were second on the market only behind the popular ostrich feathers, which is also in our inventory. White marabou was a rare type of feather to find, which made it a highly sought after material. However, early on, ostrich and goose feathers also made nice boas and were used as a substitute.

Since the early 20th century, marabou feathers have become more associated with lingerie and when used properly is very glamorized. One such accessory was the marabou mule, which was popularized by Marilyn Monroe who wore the clothing accessory in the film The Seven Year Itch.

And while marabou has been widely used as a fashion trimming since the late 19th century, it is also often used in fly tying for making up the lures ('flies') used for fly fishing. Funny that something many consider a beautiful fashion accessory is also great as an accessory to catch fish!

Wholesale Feathers Supplier

M. Schwartz & Gettinger Feather Inc has been supplying all types of feathers to customers for years. Many of these feathers are sold at great, wholesale rates. From ostrich feathers to peacock feathers, to the aforementioned marabou feathers and more. Feathers are a great accessory for many different types of occasions. For more information about the feathers we have in stock, please contact us today.

When you reach out, we will gladly answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding our line of high-end feathers. We are located West Babylon, New York and many local businesses and customers turn to us for our selection of feathers. But we are also a nationwide distributor of wholesale feathers. Stock up today!