What shearling is not
"Shearling" is alas, not a regulated term in the USA, or if it is, it's not enforced.
Basically, you take a sheep pelt (leather and wool still attached), trim the wool so that it is short (and still attached) and tan the leather so it is soft. It may be dyed, which also dyes the wool.
Imitation shearling is created when you take bare leather, slather on some kind of adhesive, and stick wool or other fibers onto it, no matter how prettily you do so. This results in a laminated item, one which does not allow moisture exchange. It's not much different than wearing plastic. Moisture exchange or "breathing" is a critical part of feeling comfortable in slippers, shoes, boots or coats. In addition, the adhesive can fail over time, which is unsightly.
If you're buying goods for winter warmth, make sure you know what you are getting by inspecting it closely.
You can't judge via a picture, but these are shearling slippers from LL Bean. Generally speaking (although not always) fashion-colored slippers are fake shearling, so be extra cautious. And, as with all leather goods, they will cost more than the fakes, but will last several times as long and feel better doing it. See Commander Vimes' Theory of Economic Injustice.
This entry was originally posted at http://cvirtue.dreamwidth.org/46672.html. There are
comments at DW.
You can comment here at LJ, too.
Basically, you take a sheep pelt (leather and wool still attached), trim the wool so that it is short (and still attached) and tan the leather so it is soft. It may be dyed, which also dyes the wool.
Imitation shearling is created when you take bare leather, slather on some kind of adhesive, and stick wool or other fibers onto it, no matter how prettily you do so. This results in a laminated item, one which does not allow moisture exchange. It's not much different than wearing plastic. Moisture exchange or "breathing" is a critical part of feeling comfortable in slippers, shoes, boots or coats. In addition, the adhesive can fail over time, which is unsightly.
If you're buying goods for winter warmth, make sure you know what you are getting by inspecting it closely.
You can't judge via a picture, but these are shearling slippers from LL Bean. Generally speaking (although not always) fashion-colored slippers are fake shearling, so be extra cautious. And, as with all leather goods, they will cost more than the fakes, but will last several times as long and feel better doing it. See Commander Vimes' Theory of Economic Injustice.
This entry was originally posted at http://cvirtue.dreamwidth.org/46672.html. There are
comments at DW.
You can comment here at LJ, too.