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Sheepskin Slippers: An Investment Or Rip-off?

Sheepskin slippers: an investment or rip-off?

By Glenneis Kriel |22 May 2024 | 5:30 am

Farmer’s Weekly recently noticed some sneering social comments about the high price of sheepskin slippers advertised by a major pharmacy on Facebook. To understand why these slippers come at a premium price, we asked Louzel Steyn.

South African sheepskin slippers are made from wool sourced from the Karoo. Photo: Karoo Farm Box

Real sheepskin slippers are pricey, make no mistake, but they are worth every penny, according to Steyn, media and marketing manager of Karoo Farm Box, which sell a diverse range of luxury items, such as sheepskin pantoffels and mohair blankets.

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“These products are expensive because they are made from natural fibres, which are costly and take time to produce. Our sheepskin pantoffels, for instance, are made from 100% genuine sheepskin and wool, with no mixture of other synthetic material.

“Many cheaper slippers may claim to be made from wool, but only contain a fraction of real wool around the outer rim of the shoe. The real product will be lined with wool, even on the bottom of your sole,” Steyn said.

Karoo Farm Box’s sheepskin pantoffels have sturdy rubber soles to protect the leather suede and improve the durability of the shoes.

“Sheepskin slippers are a great investment. I have had mine for eight years. They might not look that great anymore, but still fit perfectly and keep my feet nice and warm,” Steyn said.

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She added that the slippers might last longer or shorter depending on how they are worn: “It can last very long if you only wear it indoors, but shorter if you also use it to do gardening and other outside chores.”

These pantoffels are made true to size, fitting quite snugly at first and then moulding to a specific foot over time: “They do not wear out and maintain their size. We advise people to stick to their usual shoe size when ordering, or to go one size up if they are between sizes.”

In the pharmacy advertisement, one of the readers sarcastically asked whether sheepskin slippers had built-in heaters. The truth is that they are better than having built-in heaters.

Steyn explained that wool was a “smart” fibre. It not only heated up or cooled down depending on the function of the clothing in which it was used, but also helped to regulate temperatures. Unlike synthetic materials, these fibres also absorbed moisture and perspiration, and therefore wearing real sheepskin slippers means “goodbye to sweaty feet”.

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Sheepskin fibres also have anti-bacterial properties, which help to prevent the growth of bacteria and development of foot odour, and is hypoallergenic, repelling dust mites and mildew. It can also reduce skin friction, making it beneficial for people with mobility challenges or who are prone to get blisters.

But how do you know you are buying the real thing?

Steyn said that sheepskin contained a natural substance called lanolin, which helped to serve as a natural moisturiser, waterproofed the sheep’s coat and protected it against the elements.

“Genuine sheepskin slippers will smell like sheep because they contain lanolin.”

Those who have never been close to a sheep and don’t know what a sheep smells like, would have to contend with the claims of the seller: “Fortunately, we do have good marketing laws in South Africa to protect consumers against false claims, so look at the label to see if it is made from 100% sheepskin and wool.”

Steyn also advises consumers to buy locally: “South Africa has some of the best wool in the world, and our producers subscribe to good animal welfare practices. When you buy a South African product, you are supporting local farmers and the local economy and keeping jobs in the country. All our mohair and wool products are sourced from the Karoo.”