Curating America’s most distinguished collection of genuine sheepskin rugs

A sheepskin is the skin (pelt) of a Lamb or sheep that’s tanned with the wool (fur) still attached to the skin. Genuine sheepskin rugs are a whole animal hides with nothing glued or manufactured beyond the preservation of the skin. This is exactly why each sheepskin rug we sell will never be alike! Each sheepskin has its own unique markings, feel, length of wool, weight and shape.

The term “sheepskin rug” refers to a sheepskin pelt or hide that has been tanned with its’ wool still attached. It should not be exclusively associated with floor usage in a home. Many clients enjoy their sheepskin rugs as decorative accent throws draped over a sofa or chair. Genuine sheepskin is soothing and comforting.

Sheepskin can vary in feel and we try to describe the feel of each sheepskin we have so you can decide what’s best for you! Our genuine sheepskins DO NOT feel like a scratchy old wool sweater (unless otherwise noted). Most of our sheepskin ranges from silky soft to touch, to very soft to touch, some with a more woolly soft feel. After all, it is wool! The wool feel typically depends on the breed of sheep and the age of the sheep.

The backside of a sheepskin rug has a suede finish. We do not expect the suede side of the sheepskin rug to be flawless since it’s what they call a “single face sheepskin”. Since each sheepskin rug is hand trimmed, the shape of each sheepskin will be different. Our sheepskin hides come from meticulously cared for stock, only. You will not find large scars, holes, and major damage to the sheep’s skin.

The majority of our collection are European Sheepskins.

The reason our sheepskins come from European countries is for a few reasons.

• They have rigorous environmental, labor, and health standards, regulations that are actually more stringent than those in the United States.
• Mutton and lamb are dietary staples throughout much of Europe (unlike the United Sates), which means sheepskin pelts are readily available as by-products of the meat industry. If the pelts weren’t tanned into a useful product they would be discarded. At Noryageur we’re committed to a zero-waste philosophy by giving these beautiful skins a new purpose and to complete the lifecycle.
• Europe’s climate is ideal for raising sheep and lambs. The animals graze freely on open land rather than being confined to feedlots. This natural, pasture-based lifestyle results in exceptionally clean wool, happy sheep and less injuries to their skin.

Our European sheepskins are acquired from several countries in Europe including the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Iceland and England each offering totally unique qualities due to the differences in regional weather and sheep breeds.

Asian Sheepskins

We offer select sheepskins native to China, including fleece from the rare Tibetan sheep (also known as Mongolian lambskins). These sheep are raised free-roaming in open pastures, and all pelts are by-products of the meat industry, not harvested solely for decorative purposes. These skins are some of the softest lightest weight fluffy fur hides around! Mongolian sheepskins are among my personal absolute favorite when used as garments and as luxury throws due to their feather-lite weight, each hide only weighing approximately 8oz.

Sheepskin rugs are not just a fashion statement, they are also a way of life. Humans have used them for centuries to keep people warm and comfortable in inhospitable environments. The question, whether these rugs are ethical is one that many people often ask themselves, and the answer to this question is not as simple as it may seem.

We believe our sheepskin rugs we sell are indeed ethical and a sustainable product for the reasons listed below.

• The sheep are born free and live wild on open land until they’re rounded up. They do not contend with the stress of living in barns or being fenced in small spaces daily.
• The sheep provide many natural products such as fiber, meat, milk, & lanolin
• They do not kill the sheep for their sheepskins, their sheepskins are simply a byproduct. They would otherwise throw sheepskin pelts in the trash. Instead, they’re made into a beautiful, functional product.

Facts are UNDENIABLE! Genuine Sheepskins are a renewable resource, they’re Eco-friendly, recyclable, re-workable biodegradable & earth friendly!!! Especially natural sheepskins, without dye! Speaking of which, I have a Vintage Genuine Sheepskin B3 Bomber that’s over 40 years old and still looks as good as new! A faux leather jacket will not last a season or two, let alone 40 years without splitting, cracking and flaking.

Faux fur is made of plastic, need we say more? Plastic and micro plastic contamination is a HUGE problem around the world and your cheap faux fur purchase once thrown away will take thousands of years to biodegrade, if ever! Do a quick google search and see for yourself.

Faux leather is over 50% – 70% urethane to hold the apple, mushroom or whatever fad that’s happening this year together.

Urethane falls somewhere in the middle of plastic and rubber and is toxic. Why do you think a lot of states banned the use of urethane floor finishes?

Yes, no animals are immediately harmed when making this product. In the end, faux products not only hurt animals, but certainly impact us all.

The long-lasting impact on the earth is immeasurable, since these faux furs and leathers are not biodegradable and have a very short lifespan.

Faux fur and leather usually only last a season whereas a cared for genuine product will last for years with proper care

In the sheepskin industry, numerous terms are often used interchangeably, including sheep pelt, sheep hide rug, sheep fur rug, sheepskin rug, shearling rug, sheepskins, sheep skin, sheepskin rug, lambskin rug, and sheep fleece rug.

The above terms refer to a tanned and preserved skin of a sheep with the wool still attached.