How is a sheepskin tanned?

Tanning turns a raw skin into soft, lasting leather while keeping the wool in place. It is skilled, hands-on work, and it takes many steps.

1. Preserving the raw skin

Soon after it is taken off, the skin is salted. Salt stops it from decaying and keeps the wool firmly in place until tanning starts.

2. Cleaning

The skin is washed to remove dirt, and the fat and flesh left on the leather side are removed by machine. Then it is washed again.

3. Tanning

In large drums the skins are treated in stages: first with salt and a mild acid, then with tanning agents that make the leather stable, so it no longer decays. Finally oils are worked in, so the leather stays soft and supple.

4. Drying and softening

Most of the water is pressed out, and the skins are hung to dry. Just before they are fully dry, they are stretched and worked so the leather stays supple instead of stiff.

5. Finishing

The edges are trimmed for a good shape and the leather side is sanded smooth. The wool is combed and ironed with a heated roller, which straightens it and gives it its shine. This is also the stage where colour is added: for mouflon only the tips are darkened, for Rusty only the tips are lightened, and dyed skins get one colour all over.

No animal is raised for its skin

Sheepskins are a by-product of the meat industry. Tanning gives a skin that would otherwise be thrown away a second life in your home.

After tanning

Back with us, every pictured skin is measured by hand and photographed on its own. Read how we measure, or browse our sheepskins.