How is real lambskin made?

The production of lambskins, their origin, and processing are not always easy to determine. Many retailers provide little information about the skins they sell, which can leave an uneasy feeling when purchasing the skin.

At Sheepskin House, we always want to provide you with all the information about our skins so that you can make an informed decision. In this article, we explain where our skins come from, how they are tanned and dyed, as well as other important details you should consider when contemplating buying a genuine lambskin – for example, what exactly is meant by ORGANIC or Eco Lambskin.

How is genuine sheepskin made?

The sheepskins and lambskins in our range are by-products of meat production. This means that the sheep are primarily raised for meat production. The skin remains as a by-product when the animal is slaughtered, and instead of simply discarding it, there is an opportunity to process it further. Breeding sheep solely for their skin would be economically nonsensical – especially since lamb meat represents a significantly better source of income than an untreated skin.

This is the fundamental process of producing a genuine lambskin. After the animal has been slaughtered, only the raw product in the form of a genuine lambskin remains. Now, this material must be further processed so that you can obtain the soft and cuddly lambskin that you can find in both online shops and physical stores.

How is lambskin processed?

After the skin has been separated from the meat, each lambskin is first dried. Drying is followed by tanning. This is where the geographical placement of the skin plays a role, as, for example, lambskins from New Zealand are most commonly tanned locally or in China, while Icelandic skins are tanned in Poland, as there is a greater tradition for tanning such skins there. So don't be confused if your New Zealand lambskin says "Made in China."

In general, there are different types of tanning, which we will briefly explain here. First, we want to emphasize that all our skins are ecologically tanned. This is important to us both with regard to nature and the use of the skin. In ecological tanning, there are mainly three different methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

1. Vegetable Tanning

The vegetable tanning method is hardly used nowadays. While it was the most popular method before the 1950s, technological advancements have since led to far more effective tanning processes.

For vegetable tanning, as the name suggests, plants are used to process the skin. The biggest disadvantage of this method is twofold: (1) it takes a very long time, and (2) the tanning is weak compared to that with salts, as it does not always penetrate the entire skin. Therefore, a vegetable-tanned lambskin can easily have a stronger odor.

2. Mineral Salts

Nowadays, most skins are tanned with salts. Mainly mineral salts are used for this, often distinguishing between tanning with chrome salts and tanning with aluminum salts. Aluminum salts are used, for example, for tanning Icelandic lambskins, while chrome salts are used for tanning New Zealand lambskins. Both methods are gentler on the skin and the environment than chemical tanning – which is why our skins are only tanned with salts. Because of this tanning, lambskins should only be washed in the absolute last resort, as the salts are removed, which can lead to matted hairs and a hard leather side.

3. Medical Tanning

Finally, there is medical tanning. This method is mainly used for special baby lambskins, as these can be machine washed due to the medical tanning. However, the tanning also causes the lambskins to take on a yellowish hue. Due to its easy-care properties, medically tanned skin is ideal for babies and strollers.

What happens to the lambskin after tanning?

Depending on the type of skin, there are different steps after tanning. If we start with the medically tanned lambskins, such as the baby lambskin, these skins are already finished after tanning. They have a yellowish hue and are often cut into a specific shape so that they fit perfectly in the stroller. Our baby lambskins, however, retain their natural shape. We also offer dyed baby lambskins in white, pink, and gray. These were dyed in the same way as our New Zealand lambskins.

Our salt-tanned skins from New Zealand and Tibet are dyed after tanning. This dyeing allows us to offer lambskins in many different colors that are consistent with each other. Due to the relatively light base color of genuine lambskin, New Zealand skins are ideal for dyeing. The big advantage of a dyed lambskin is that you can create a uniform look around the dining table by draping the lambskins over the chairs.

Our dyed lambskins are dyed using the so-called ECO-Tan method. This means that the skins are dyed in the most environmentally friendly way possible. For example, as much water as possible is reused, and only a minimum of chemicals are used. Natural sheepskins from, for example, England, Gotland, or Iceland are undyed. This means that the skins have exactly the coloring that nature has given them.

After dyeing, some of our skins from New Zealand or Iceland are further processed. Most skins are not cut but retain their natural shape, while other skins are further processed into cushions, seat covers, or larger rugs. For the cushions and seat cushions in our range, smaller pieces that have been cut from other skins are used. This way, waste is reduced to a minimum, which is very important to us. The individual parts are always perfectly matched to create a harmonious overall picture.

When is a lambskin ecological?

Now that you know a little more about the production of a genuine lambskin, you might feel a bit confused by the terms BIO-lambskin or eco-lambskin. Because when is a lambskin actually ecological? Is it just about tanning, or are there several factors to consider?

This question is best explained with an example, so we will now take a closer look at the ecological lambskin from Iceland and the dyed lambskin from New Zealand.

Example: Icelandic and New Zealand lambskins

At first glance, Icelandic and New Zealand lambskins may look similar, especially the short-haired variety from Iceland and the long-haired variety from New Zealand are very similar. However, there are clear differences between these two types of skins.

In addition to the sheep breed, these skins also differ in that Icelandic sheepskins are considered ecological, while lambskins from New Zealand are not classified as ecological. But why is that?

Both the sheep from New Zealand and the Icelandic sheep from which our skins originate are raised ecologically. This means that the sheep spend their entire lives outdoors and have the opportunity to find shelter. The sheep are cared for by experienced farmers, and ecological outdoor rearing according to European guidelines is very important to us.

Until tanning, both skins are still considered ecological. However, this changes as soon as the New Zealand lambskins are dyed. Because unlike the Icelandic lambskin, the New Zealand lambskin does not come in various natural colors. It is naturally rather white, but the other colors are created by natural dyes. As soon as a skin is dyed, it loses the designation "ecological" or "BIO."

So, a skin can be ecologically tanned even if it has been dyed. In this case, however, it is important to note that only the tanning is ecological. If you are looking for a BIO-lambskin or eco-sheepskin, we recommend that you consider our natural skins.

Delivery to us and to the customer

Now that the skin, cushion, or rug is finished, they only need to be delivered to us. The long delivery from New Zealand takes place in a container by ship. This is significantly more cost-effective and also more environmentally friendly, but of course, it takes a little longer, which means that we sometimes have to wait a few months for a new delivery.

Skins tanned in Poland are transported by truck to our main warehouse in Denmark. From there, we send the skins on to our customers.

Do you still have questions about the production or manufacture of skins? Feel free to send us an email or leave a comment.