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Sheepskin is the hide of a sheep, sometimes also called lambskin or lambswool. It is used to produce sheepskin leather products and soft, wool-lined clothing or coverings, including gloves, hats, footstools and pelts (sheepskin rugs and seat covers). In particular, lambswool is the principal material used in the ugg boots, footwear traditionally produced in Australia and New Zealand.

The fleece of a sheepskin has excellent insulating properties, it is also resistant to flame and static electricity.

The quality of the skin used in each application depends on several factors, mostly whether the pelt, which is the back of the hide, will be visible or not. Where the pelt is visible, better quality hide with minimal seed will be used.

Seed contamination refers to patches of scar tissue resulting from a healed seed burrow wound during the animal's life. This scar tissue can fall out leaving small holes after the pelt is processed or it can remain in place leaving imperfections in the pelt which cannot be corrected.

In general wool affected by skin diseases is not usable. Other problems include lice infestation, dead wool and regrowth.

Skins are classed, packed and sold in standardised wool lengths:

• Bares (newly shorn)
• 1/8"–1/4" (3 mm–7 mm)
• 1/4"–1/2" (7 mm–13 mm)
• 1/2"–1" (13 mm–26 mm)
• 1"–2" (26 mm 55 mm)
• 2"–4" (55 mm–110 mm) Full wools

In general longer wool is more prone to weakness in the fibre.

Mouton fur is sheepskin which has been processed to resemble beaver or seal fur. Mouton is "sheep" in French. Mouton fur refers to lamb hair which has straightened, chemically treated, and thermally set to produce a moisture repellant finish. Mouton is often dyed brown to resemble Beaver, but it is also found in many other colors.

• Sheepskin.org.uk

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