The Craft
Care for
what you own.
Shearling is forgiving about wear and unforgiving about water. Four rules cover almost everything.
01
Keep it dry
This is the rule that matters. Water stiffens the skin side as it dries and no amount of conditioning fully reverses it. If a pair gets wet, dry them slowly at room temperature, away from a radiator. Heat is worse than water.
02
Brush, do not wash
A suede brush used in one direction lifts the nap and takes surface dirt with it. Machine washing is the fastest way to ruin a pair: the agitation felts the wool and the heat shrinks the hide.
03
Let them breathe
A sealed box or a plastic bag traps moisture against the hide. An open shelf is better. If they are going away for the summer, use a cloth bag with room for air.
04
Rotate if you can
Wool recovers its loft when it is not being compressed. A pair worn every single night flattens faster than a pair worn most nights. It is the least expensive thing you can do to extend one.