Leather jackets are available in different materials. As their name suggests, they are made of leather. Leather, however, is simply animal skin that’s been tanned and processed. There are different types of leather, including cowhide, goatskin and sheepskin.
Cowhide is the most common type of leather used in the construction of jackets. Statistics show that cowhide leather accounts for about 65% of all leather products. But if you’re looking to buy a leather jacket, you may want to go with sheepskin. Sheepskin leather jackets offer several advantages that make them an attractive choice.
#1) Lightweight
While they have a similar appearance, cowhide and sheepskin leather jackets aren’t the same. Sheepskin leather jackets typically weigh less than cowhide leather jackets. Sheepskin leather is lighter than cowhide leather. As a result, jackets made of sheepskin leather weigh less.
With their lightweight properties, sheepskin leather jackets offer excellent mobility. They weigh you down, nor will they restrict your ability to move. You can wear a sheepskin leather while jogging, running or performing other physical activities.
#2) Soft
We can’t talk about the benefits of choosing a sheepskin leather jacket without mentioning its soft texture. Al leather jackets are soft. Assuming a jacket is made of real leather — as opposed to faux leather — it will likely feel soft. Some types of leather, though, are softer than others. Sheepskin ranks as one of the softest types of leather on the market. It has a small, narrow grain that manifests in the form of a super-soft texture.
The soft texture of sheepskin leather jackets makes them gentle on your skin. You don’t have to worry about a sheepskin leather jacket scratching or otherwise irritating your skin. The soft texture of sheepskin leather will allow you to wear it all day long without experiencing any discomfort.
#3) Ages More Gracefully
You may discover that sheepskin leather jackets age differently than cowhide leather jackets. They’ll typically fade over time. With that said, sheepskin leather jackets experience a lighter, subtler fading than cowhide leather jackets. Known as a patina, it will actually enhance their appearance.
There’s no way to stop the hands of time from rolling. If you’re worried that your leather jacket will become old and obsolete, however, you may want to choose a sheepskin leather jacket. Sheepskin leather jackets are known for their ability to age more gracefully than other types of leather jackets.
Of course, there are things you can do to preserve the original appearance of your sheepskin leather jacket, some of which include the following:
- Store on a heavy-duty clothes hanger (don’t use a plastic coat hanger)
- Use a towel to dry your sheepskin leather jacket if it gets wet
- Keep away from all heat sources, such as fireplaces, space heaters, clothing irons, etc.
- Make sure your sheepskin leather jacket is kept in a humidity-controlled space.
- Read and follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s care tag
#4) Contours to Your Body
Another reason to choose a sheepskin leather jacket involves its appearance when worn. Sheepskin leather jackets will contour to your body — more so than leather jackets. This is because sheepskin leather is thinner than cowhide leather.
In terms of protection, cowhide leather comes out on top. Many biker jackets are made of cowhide leather for this reason. They are thicker than sheepskin leather, so they offer greater protection against injuries. Sheepskin leather jackets, on the other hand, typically look better when worn. They are thinner, which allows them to naturally contour to the shape of your body.
#5) Smooth
In addition to being soft, sheepskin leather jackets are smooth. When rubbing your hands across the surface of a sheepskin leather jacket, you’ll notice its smooth texture. Sheepskin leather jackets aren’t just soft; they are smooth. Sheepskin is almost as smooth as silk. With this silky smooth texture, you can rest assured knowing that they are comfortable.
To make a sheepskin leather jacket even more smooth, you can condition it. Conditioning involves the application of a leather cream. Also known as a leather conditioner, it will hydrate the sheepskin leather so that it doesn’t dry out. All forms of leather can dry out. Whether your jacket is made of sheepskin leather or cowhide, it may dry out, resulting in a rough texture. Conditioning will prevent your leather jacket from drying out while promoting a softer, smoother texture.
#6) Low Maintenance
Aside from conditioning them, sheepskin leather jackets don’t require any other form of regular maintenance. You’ll still need to clean it. All leather jackets require cleaning when dirty. If you notice a stain on your sheepskin leather jacket, however, you should be able to clean it with a damp washcloth. For stubborn stains, you can add a few drops of gentle dish soap to the washcloth.
The bottom line is that sheepskin leather jackets are easy to maintain. They only require cleaning and, on occasion, conditioning. As long as your jacket is made of real sheepskin leather, it won’t require any other form of maintenance. You can make your sheepskin leather jacket last a lifetime by following these basic maintenance tasks. Cleaning and conditioning it will allow you to get more use out of your sheepskin leather jacket.
#7) Custom Sizing
You can even order a sheepskin leather jacket in a custom size. Here at LeatherCult, we offer custom sizing on all of your leather jackets, including those made of sheepskin leather. You won’t have to choose a sheepskin leather jacket in a generic size. Rather, you can order a custom-sized sheepskin leather jacket.
Custom-sized sheepskin leather jackets are designed using your own measurements. You can provide us with your body measurements when ordering a sheepskin leather jacket. We’ll use these measurements to design the perfect-fitting jacket. With custom sizing, you can rest assured knowing that the sheepskin leather jacket will fit just right. It won’t be too big, nor will it be too small.