The History of Sheepskin

Sheepskin is a material that here at The Slipper Box, we're very passionate about, and I'd like to talk to you about its history.

Sheepskin has been worn and used in colder climates since 500 B.C. We know this because a Mummy in Subashi was uncovered wearing a pair of sheepskin boots. During the 19th-century traveller, William Knight witnessed sheepskin being worn by the people of Tibet, and the usage of sheepskin only grow as time went on.

In 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary wore a pair of sheepskin boots made by Morlands to climb Mount Everest. Not only were they for the climb, but to keep in warmth when he and his fellow climbers stopped for breaks.

Going back a few to WW1, sheepskin flying jackets were a standard requirement for pilots as their aircraft was unpressurised. It was also common practice to wear sheepskin helmets and sheepskin boots during flight. Now in the 20th-century, Aviator flying jackets are a fashion item, once again usually lined with sheepskin from the more expensive brands.

But our favourite thing about sheepskin is that it's used to line the inside of a slipper, making them sheepskin slippers. Slippers themselves can be traced back until the 12th-century, but it wasn't until the late 18th and early 19th-centuries that sheepskin slippers were worn on peoples feet.

Today sheepskin slippers are fashion icons from brands like UGG, Shepherd of Sweden and EMU Australia. They're also a stable footwear piece around the home. We love sheepskin, and it's natural properties like being water-absorbent and sweat-resistant, or it's insulation properties for both hot and cold temperatures.

I hope that you've learnt a thing or two about sheepskin and that you love it as much as we do here at The Slipper Box. Whenever you're in need of a pair of sheepskin slippers or any slippers for that matter, I hope you know that all our products are carefully selected.

Jack