Sheepskin has been used for centuries to protect people from cold, heat and rain. As a renewable resource, it can’t be beaten. The way that sheepskin works to protect your body is simple but powerful.
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Air Containment
Sheepskin fibers and wool weaves are loaded with air pockets. When you keep these air pockets close to your body, the pockets warm up and you can capture warm air snugly against your skin. Until the fabric moves, you’ll stay warm. The insulating warmth of sheepskin is easy to maintain, even if your gloves get wet. Polyester fleece offers a similar containment for warm air against your skin, but once the fabric gets wet, moisture will wick its way to your skin. Sheepskin products have a much higher moisture tolerance than man-made fleeces.
Moisture Tolerant
Unlike materials such as cotton that wick away moisture, sheepskin can tolerate a lot of water before it loses its ability to keep you warm. If you get rained on during your commute or while running errands, your sheepskin gloves will continue to protect your hands. As the outer layer gets wet, it compacts and forms a shield so the material closest to your skin stays dry. Unless you’re out for a very long time and your gloves become sodden, your hands will be protected from the moisture and the cold. Once you get home, you’ll want to get air on your gloves. Take care not to put them on a heat register or run them through the dryer on high heat. Instead, put a fan on them or dry them on a fluff setting.
Durability
Sheepskin is a natural and breathable material with a varied texture. If a portion of it becomes compacted and loses the inherent insulating qualities, you can wash your sheepskin gloves in plain water, allow them to dry and fluff the material again. Your robust and hard-wearing gloves will protect you for many winters to come. You can re-fluff your gloves by shaking or brushing them to loosen any compressed fibers. Matted sheepskin offers less insulation, so be sure to recreate the air pockets needed for warmth.
Good Value
Even though sheepskin is a natural material, it’s easily renewed. Sheep are a great source of renewable energy and warmth. Thus, sheepskin is much more inexpensive than fur and requires much less bloodshed. In fact, an unshorn sheep can suffer dangerous skin conditions and may become unwell as the weather heats up. By shearing, sheep farmers can monitor their skin and make sure they are staying healthy and strong. Monitor your gloves in the same way. When they are dirty, wash them in cold water with gentle soap, or just rinse them by hand. Fluff or brush the insulating material once while wet and once when dry. Air dry your gloves with the help of a fan or put them in your dryer on the lowest setting. Heat may damage the sheepskin material.
An Investment
A good pair of sheepskin gloves in a color you enjoy will last for years. This long-lasting material can be washed by hand and fluffed back up to provide plenty of warmth-capturing protection for your hands this winter and in years to come. If you wash them at the end of the season, make sure to dry them completely before storing them. Visit this website for further details.