Sheepskins & Ethics

why are sheepskins made?

Sheepskins are a byproduct of the meat industry.

If not saved by farmers, these beautiful pelts would be wasted and discarded as part of the industry byproduct.

your purchase does not support the meat industry.

Sheep are raised for meat, not their pelts.

Purchasing a sheepskin has no impact on the number of animals used in the meat industry.

Since only one in 200 sheepskins is rescued from becoming a waste byproduct, your purchase can only help the possibility of more being saved, appreciated and remembered.

farmers and ethics

Saving pelts from the byproduct heap is a significant effort for farmers. They make a small profit, the focus being minimizing waste. In most cases the sheep are raised on large plots of land, grazing on natural grasses and essentially living 'in the wild'. The profits help support proper husbandry of their flocks, provide safety, feed, shelter and general care of the sheep.

I personally choose to search for pieces originating in the EU due to the exceptionally high government regulated standards for the ethical treatment of animals, and small family farms. Some originate in the USA, and a few from Turkey, Greenland and Morocco, from carefully selected sources. Many come from small farms where unique crosses often yield unusual wool patterns, some with more 'natural' touches such as occasional bits of hay tucked into the wool curls.

The hurdles to preservation

On average, 199 of 200 sheepskins are discarded as a waste product. Rescuing these hides requires a delicate balance of timing and logistics that the current industrial system isn't built to handle.

Here is a look at why these potential "works of art" are so often lost:

The Critical Four-Hour Window

Nature operates on a strict timeline. To prevent decay and preserve the wool's integrity, a hide must be salted or frozen within four hours of harvest. In the fast-paced environment of a processing facility, this narrow window is easily missed. By prioritizing immediate preservation, we rescue the pelt before its beauty is lost forever.

Navigating Industry Conflict

Meat processors operate under rigid USDA hygiene standards, where the primary goal is food safety. Bringing uncleaned, raw hides into a sterile environment creates a contamination risk that many facilities simply avoid by disposing of the skins. We work to provide an outlet for these hides, ensuring that safety and sustainability can coexist.

The Physicality of the Craft

Rescuing these pieces is a labor of endurance. A single raw hide, saturated with moisture, can weigh between 80 and 150 pounds. The sheer physical demand of lifting, soaking, and hanging these heavy skins is a significant barrier for most.

sheepskins & ethics