Shearling
Shearling is a skin from a recently shorn sheep or lamb that has been tanned and dressed with the wool left on. It has a suede surface on one side and a clipped fur surface on the other. Usually the suede side is worn outward. Real shearling breathes and is more flexible, much heavier in weight and the fur is much denser than synthetic. Synthetic shearling fur is typically called sherpa. Synthetic or fake shearling ha…
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids.
What is a shearling coat?
Shearling coats are made from processed lambskin, sheepskin, or pelt. This " shearing " process creates a uniform depth of the wool fibers for a uniform feel and look. Shearling coats and garments are made from pelts by tanning them with the wool of uniform depth still on them.
What is shearling made of?
Shearling. Shearling is a skin from a recently shorn sheep or lamb that has been tanned and dressed with the wool left on. It has a suede surface on one side and a clipped fur surface on the other. Usually the suede side is worn outward. Shearling can only be made from real sheepskin, not from synthetic fibers.
What is the difference between shearling and synthetic fur?
Shearling is a skin from a recently shorn sheep or lamb that has been tanned and dressed with the wool left on. It has a suede surface on one side and a clipped fur surface on the other. Usually the suede side is worn outward. Real shearling breathes and is more flexible, much heavier in weight and the fur is much denser than synthetic.
What is a shearling sheepskin?
The term ‘shearling’ describes a lamb that has had only one shearing. A shearling sheepskin is the skin of a shearling lamb that’s tanned, processed, and dyed with the wool still intact. This creates a suede or leather material with a soft wool on the opposite side.
Are shearling coats cruel?
Is wearing shearling ethical? Shearling is an animal product and isn't ethical since it comes from sheep or lambs' winter coats and involves animal exploitation, slaughter, cruelty, stress, injuries, and diseases more often than not. Sheep have a nervous system and can suffer and feel pain.
What's the difference between sheepskin and shearling?
The terms are often used interchangeably to describe both a sheepskin or a shearling coat or jacket. However, a shearling is only the hide of a lamb and a sheepskin is the hide of a sheep. Wool is on one side and Leather hide is on the other.
Why is shearling expensive?
The process of treating it can make both leather and animal hides comically expensive, and then there's the legwork in actually fashioning a garment out of it. It takes much longer to produce a shearling coat than it does, say, a cotton bomber jacket, and even clothing manufacturers need to pay the bills.
Is shearling more ethical than fur?
So fur is morally bad, but leather and shearling are 'ethical' because the animal is also eaten by humans.
How can you tell a real shearling?
Examine the backing of your sheepskin If your sheepskin is real, the wool won't come away easily and the underside will be smooth, resembling leather or suede. If your sheepskin is fake, you won't need to try very hard to pull away the pile, and the exposed backing will probably have a woven texture.
How long does a shearling coat last?
When cared for properly, a high-quality sheepskin coat can last for decades and still retain its softness and shape. Overland's shearling coats are the finest and most durable available. It's not uncommon for us to hear from customers who've been wearing their sheepskin coat for more than 20 years.
Can a shearling coat get wet?
Most shearling coats are also water resistant and won't be damaged if cared for properly. Coats that have gotten wet from rain or snow must be dried at room temperature – once they're dry, water spots are simply brushed off.
Can you wear shearling in the rain?
You should not wear your shearling in pouring rain, but mild rain and snow will not ruin your shearling. Just shake off the water when you get home and let your coat or jacket dry in an open, well ventilated space, then brush the water stains off with a lint brush when the coat is completely dry.
Is shearling warmer than fur?
"These qualities make shearling garments much more comfortable than the heavy, bulky coats we see in fur, wool or down. It's also much warmer than wool or down, especially in heavy wind, and far more economical than fur."
Is an animal killed for shearling?
“Shearling” refers to the sheep: A shearling is a yearling sheep who has been shorn just once, and a shearling garment is made from a sheep or lamb shorn shortly before slaughter. It can take dozens of individual sheep skins to make just one shearling garment.
Is PETA against shearling?
“In addition to considering what all animals go through when their own coats are taken from them, PETA asks everyone to refrain from wearing leather, wool, shearling and silk.
Are sheep skinned alive?
It shows cruel treatment of lambs and sheep, including castration and the docking of tails. Some lambs are stabbed in the neck with knives, and at least one is skinned while apparently still alive.
Is shearling softer than sheepskin?
Sheepskin jackets are less soft than shearling and have a coarser texture. Shearling coats, on the other hand, are not only exceedingly soft but also incredibly warm, making them a fantastic investment for those who live in really cold locations.
Is shearling warmer than down?
"These qualities make shearling garments much more comfortable than the heavy, bulky coats we see in fur, wool or down. It's also much warmer than wool or down, especially in heavy wind, and far more economical than fur."
Which is better sheepskin or lambskin?
Lambskins are finer than sheepskins. The wool of the lambskin can absorb moisture up to 30% in the form of water vapour, without feeling wet or cold. The scarf structure of the wool fibre repels the dirt and thus has a natural self-cleaning quality.
Can shearling get wet?
You should not wear your shearling in pouring rain, but mild rain and snow will not ruin your shearling. Just shake off the water when you get home and let your coat or jacket dry in an open, well ventilated space, then brush the water stains off with a lint brush when the coat is completely dry.
What Is Shearling?
The term ‘shearling’ describes a lamb that has had only one shearing. A shearling sheepskin is the skin of a shearling lamb that’s tanned, processed, and dyed with the wool still intact. This creates a suede or leather material with a soft wool on the opposite side. Because the wool is still attached to the skin, shearling is a fur product.
What is Sherpa?
Sherpa is a fabric made from polyester ( fleece ), acrylic, or cotton and is sometimes called ‘faux shearling,’ named for its resemblance to the wool-lined clothing worn by the Sherpa people of Nepal. Sherpa mimics the bumpy texture of sheep’s wool.
Buying Considerations
Seeing as a shearling jacket is an investment purchase, before parting with your hard-earned cash it’s wise to consider the following.
The Best Shearling Jacket Brands
Now you’ve figured out exactly what type of shearling jacket you want to buy, here are the brands you should be looking at.
Artisan Shearling Jacket Producers
This French tannery makes some of the best leather jackets around, and small wonder given its history – Lindbergh wore a Chapal jacket for his trans-Atlantic flight; and Chapal invented a lamination process by which sheepskin coats can be waterproofed. But expect to pay: its B-3 is €5000.
