See the tanning process

Soaking

To Re-hydrate cured (salted) sheepskins.

Washing

The skins are washed in hot soapy water.

Fleshing

This is done on the traditional beam (tanneries were originally called beamhouses) hence the old saying: "leather is made or marred in the beamhouse..."

Pickling

The skins are now preserved in a brine solution.

Tanning

The pickled sheepskins are now changed into fully washable leather, a highly skilled and critical process.

Oiling

This process makes the leather supple.

Toggling and Racking

The skins are now stretched out prior to drying.

Drying

A key part of the process. Drying is an art in itself.

Tumbling

The sheepskins are now tumbled to soften the leather (like wearing in new shoes).

Buffing

Using a granite wheel weighing 120lbs, and spinning at 1000rpm. The grain of the leather is now polished to highlight the seude nap.

And finally.......

• Trimming
• Hand Combing
• Hand Finishing

These last stages are the most demanding and time consuming, requiring craftsmanship of the highest order. It's at this stage that every SKYESKYNS' fleece reaches its full potential.