Sheepskin

What is Shearling Sheepskin?

Sheepskin, or shearling, is leather made from sheep, with the wool intact and kept on the leather. The wool is usually trimmed to a particular length and is dyed to a particular color. It is commonly used for manufacturing footwear; slippers, and boots, while it is also used for gloves, rugs, coats, and car seat covers too. Sheepskin has many incredible natural properties that make it far superior to any man made material.

What is the Difference between Sheepskin and Shearling?

Sheepskin and shearling are often referred to as the exact same thing. Shearling is traditionally the American word while in the UK and Europe, it is commonly called sheepskin. Sometimes shearling is referred to as lambskin, while sheepskin is the skin of a full grown sheep, but mostly the two phrases refer to the same thing; sheepskin. They are both incredibly soft, hard wearing, and warm, making them the perfect material for slippers, boots, rugs, and gloves.

Our Featured Collections

Sheepskin Slippers

Sheepskin Boots

Sheepskin Gloves

Sheepskin Mittens

Mens Sheepskin Slippers

Womens Sheepskin Slippers

Mens Sheepskin Boots

Womens Sheepskin Boots

Black Sheepskin Slippers

Pink Sheepskin Slippers

Classic Sheepskin Slippers

Sheepskin House Slippers

Sheepskin Moccasins

Sheepskin Mules

Sheepskin Booties

Sheepskin Lined Shoes

Mens Sheepskin Gloves

Womens Sheepskin Gloves

Tall Sheepskin Boots

Short Sheepskin Boots

Double Faced Sheepskin Boots

Chocolate Sheepskin Boots

Chelsea Sheepskin Boots

Wedge Sheepskin Boots

Tan Sheepskin Boots

Leather Sheepskin Boots

Knee High Sheepskin Boots

Grey Sheepskin Boots

View All

Shearling Sheepskin Processing

There are many stages of the tanning of sheepskin. These include:

• Soaking: This is designed to re-hydrate the skin and restore lanolin and collagen naturally.
• Fleshing: This involves removing any leftover fatty tissues and degreasing the pelt.
• Scouring: This is where the pelts are put into a solution to remove dirt while keeping the wool preserved. Large tanks are used at an elevated temperature.
• Pickling: The pelts are soaked again, and salt is added, as most were removed during scouring.
• Dying: The pelts are placed into a vessel containing pigments to add the necessary color.
• Stretching and drying: The pelts are stretched under tension, and held together by clips on a metallic mesh plate. The mesh plate is placed in an oven to remove water from the wool. The pelt, still stretched, is then moved outside to dry in the open air.
• Finishing: The pelts are now ready for manufacturing and are cut and stitched to the required specifications.

Benefits of Sheepskin

Sheepskin has many important natural benefits. It regulates temperature; it keeps you warm and cozy when it is cold, but also cool when it is warm. Sheepskin is hygroscopic, meaning it absorb a third of its weight in water without becoming damp. This means that it is naturally waterproof and will not become sweaty when wearing. Sheepskin is hypoallergenic, which means it is good for people with allergies. Sheepskin is also naturally antibacterial, making it perfect for babies and children to use for warmth too.

Where to Buy Sheepskin?

Sheepskin can be purchased online here with Draper of Glastonbury. We are a fourth generation family owned company, founded in 1937, and our factory in England is the oldest sheepskin footwear manufacturer in the United Kingdom today. We offer free delivery and returns to the USA and Canada. We sell an extensive collection of sheepskin slippers, boots, gloves, and rugs made entirely from premium quality genuine sheepskin, which is locally sourced in the UK and is a by product of the farming industry; so we use a wasted material and create beautiful products that was last for many years. Natural materials, sustainably produced.