Sheepskin: A Material at the Heart of our Heritage

From the very beginning, sheepskin has been at the heart of who we are.

Before the leather jackets, before the bags and belts, there were sheepskin slippers, mittens and coats – the pieces that built our reputation for craftsmanship and set Lakeland Leather apart.

Naturally breathable, insulating, and built to last, sheepskin is nature’s own performance fabric. It’s the material that started it all – and one we continue to celebrate today, reimagined for the modern wardrobe.

Nature’s Original Performance Fabric

Few materials can rival sheepskin for its natural properties. The wool interior provides unmatched warmth, while the sueded or leather outer acts as a natural windbreaker. Yet despite its insulating power, sheepskin remains breathable – helping to regulate temperature and wick away moisture for comfort that lasts all day.

It’s a material that works with your body, not against it. Long before the invention of synthetic outdoor fabrics, sheepskin was keeping people warm on mountainsides and in open cockpits – a true testament to nature’s engineering.

Durable, hard-wearing, and timeless, a real sheepskin coat only gets better with age. With the right care, it will see you through decades of winters – softening and shaping itself to you over time.

The Sheepskin Boom

The 1970s and 80s marked the golden age of sheepskin – a time when almost every wardrobe featured one.
From longline shearling coats to cropped aviator styles, sheepskin became the ultimate statement of quality and individuality. For Lakeland Leather, it was the era that defined us – our stores were filled with its unmistakable scent, and our catalogues showcased designs that would come to symbolise British craftsmanship.

It was during this time that our team truly mastered the material – learning how to cut, shape, and finish sheepskin to stand the test of time. Those lessons continue to guide us today, with an unwavering commitment to premium quality and doing things the right way – no shortcuts, no compromises.

Real vs Faux – Why Authentic Sheepskin Endures

Faux sheepskin may offer the look, but never the feel.

While imitation styles can be appealing for their lower price point, nothing matches the breathability, softness, and longevity of the real thing.

Our sheepskin is also a by-product of the meat industry – a responsible use of a natural material that would otherwise go to waste. By giving it new life, we honour both the animal and the craft, turning what might be discarded into something to be treasured for decades.

It’s an investment in quality over quantity – the kind of conscious choice that defines true sustainability.

Our Sheepskin Promise

At Lakeland Leather, every sheepskin we make carries with it over seven decades of craftsmanship and care.
Each piece is designed to last, to weather beautifully, and to tell its own story over time. It’s why we offer our Lakeland Leather Guarantee – assurance that your investment is made to endure.

In a world of fast fashion and fleeting trends, there’s something grounding about a material that stands the test of time. When you choose sheepskin, you’re choosing authenticity – the feel of something real.

Still at the Heart of Lakeland

The world has changed since our first sheepskin coat, but our values haven’t.

We still design with the same principles that began in Ambleside in 1955: care, integrity, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Sheepskin remains more than a material to us – it’s a symbol of where we came from and a reminder of why we do what we do.

Because while styles may evolve, true quality never goes out of fashion.

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