If you've inherited a genuine sheepskin coat, start by checking its condition - the leather, the wool lining, and the stitching - before deciding whether to wear it as is, have it cleaned or restored, or sell it on. Many inherited sheepskin coats are decades old and still in good, wearable condition, because well-made sheepskin is built to last generations, not just years. What you do next depends mostly on that condition check and on whether the coat is something you'll actually wear.
We hear from customers about this fairly often - someone finds a parent's or grandparent's coat while clearing a house, and it's clearly a good one, but they're not sure what to do with it. Here's how to think it through. It's also worth reading about the history of sheepskin craft in Suffolk, since many inherited coats trace back to exactly this kind of heritage workshop, including possibly the coat Del Boy made famous.
Why old sheepskin coats often survive so well
It's genuinely common for a sheepskin coat from the 1970s or 80s to still be in decent condition, and there's a real reason for that. Genuine sheepskin is a single natural hide with the wool still attached - not a synthetic lining bonded to a fabric shell - so there's no separate layer to peel, crack or delaminate the way cheaper synthetic "shearling-style" coats do. With reasonable storage, even coats that haven't been worn in years can come through largely intact. It's one of the reasons sheepskin coats have a long history of being passed down rather than thrown away.
Step one: check the condition
Before deciding anything, go through the coat properly:
- The leather (suede) side: Look for cracking, dry patches, deep stains or areas where the leather has gone stiff or brittle. Flex the leather gently at the elbows and cuffs - it should have some give, not feel like cardboard.
- The wool lining: Check for matting, moth damage (small holes or bald patches), or a musty smell that doesn't air out. Light matting is normal and fixable; moth holes are more serious.
- Seams and stitching: Look at the shoulders, underarms and pocket edges, which take the most strain. Loose or split stitching is usually repairable by a competent tailor.
- Buttons, zips and hardware: Check these still work - often the easiest and cheapest thing to replace if they don't.
- Overall smell and dampness: A coat that's been stored somewhere damp may have mildew, which is worth addressing early rather than sealing back into storage.
Most coats that come through this check without major leather cracking or serious moth damage are worth keeping and caring for, or worth restoring properly.
Checking whether it's genuine sheepskin
If there's no label or the label has worn away, a few quick checks help confirm you're dealing with real sheepskin rather than a synthetic "sheepskin-style" coat:
- Genuine sheepskin has an irregular, natural hide shape under the lining - you may be able to feel slightly uneven thickness or a visible suede/leather texture on the reverse.
- Real wool fibres feel slightly greasy or waxy between your fingers (that's the natural lanolin) and don't have the uniform, slightly plasticky feel of synthetic fleece.
- A closer look at the base of the wool, where it meets the leather, shows a natural root structure rather than fibres woven or bonded into a backing fabric.
- Genuine sheepskin coats are usually heavier than a synthetic equivalent of the same size, simply because real hide has more weight than a bonded fabric lining.
If you're still unsure, a local furrier, tailor or specialist dry cleaner who works with leather and sheepskin can usually confirm this for you quickly.
Basic care before you do anything else
Whatever you decide to do with the coat, give it simple care first:
- Brush the wool lining gently with a soft brush to lift any matting from years in storage.
- Air the coat out somewhere well-ventilated and out of direct sun for a day or two to clear any musty storage smell.
- Avoid machine washing, tumble drying, or placing it near a radiator or fire to dry - this is true for any sheepskin coat, old or new, and heat is the fastest way to damage leather that may already be decades old.
- If in doubt, do less rather than more. A gentle brush and airing solves most issues that come from storage rather than damage.
See our full Sheepskin Care Guide for the complete routine on brushing, spot-cleaning and storage.
When to get it professionally cleaned or restored
For anything beyond a light brush and airing - deep staining, stiff or dry leather, or a musty smell that won't lift - it's worth taking the coat to a specialist. Look for:
- A local furrier or leather specialist who works with sheepskin and shearling specifically, not just general dry cleaning. They can professionally clean the leather, recondition it if it's dried out, and address moth damage in the wool.
- A tailor experienced with leather and sheepskin for structural repairs - reinforcing seams, replacing a zip or buttons, or adjusting the fit if the coat has been passed to someone a different size than the original owner.
Ask to see examples of their previous sheepskin work before committing, since not every dry cleaner or tailor has the right experience with hide and wool together.
If you've decided it's not for you: realistic options for selling it on
Not every inherited coat suits the person who inherits it, and that's a perfectly reasonable reason to pass it on rather than let it sit unused in a wardrobe. If you'd rather sell it, a genuine, well-made sheepskin coat generally holds real resale interest, particularly vintage pieces with recognisable heritage branding. Realistic routes include:
- Vintage and secondhand clothing marketplaces such as Vinted, Depop or eBay, where vintage sheepskin coats - especially recognisable British-made styles - have a genuine following. Good photos of the label, lining and any wear are worth the extra time, as buyers on these platforms tend to know what they're looking for.
- Specialist vintage clothing dealers or shops, particularly ones that focus on outerwear or leather, who may buy directly or sell on consignment.
- Local tailors or furriers, who sometimes know collectors or clients specifically looking for a good vintage sheepskin coat, even if they don't buy stock themselves.
- Auction houses that handle vintage clothing and textiles, if the coat has notable age, branding or condition that might appeal to collectors.
Whichever route you choose, having the coat cleaned and the condition properly assessed first tends to make a real difference to what it's worth, so it's worth doing that step even if you're planning to sell rather than keep it. A well cared-for coat is also a genuinely sustainable choice to keep wearing or pass on rather than replace.
A note on what this coat represents
We make coats and sheepskin pieces the same way we did in 1846 - cut and stitched by hand from genuine hide, built to be worn for years and then passed on rather than thrown away. An inherited coat that's still wearable decades later isn't an accident; it's exactly what well-made sheepskin is supposed to do. Whether you keep it, restore it, or pass it on to someone else who'll wear it, that's a good outcome for a coat built the old-fashioned way. Read more about our workshop on our About page, or get in touch if you have questions about an inherited piece.
FAQs
How do I know if my inherited coat is genuine sheepskin?
Check for a natural, slightly irregular hide texture on the reverse, wool that feels faintly waxy from natural lanolin rather than uniformly synthetic, and overall weight - genuine sheepskin is typically heavier than a synthetic equivalent. A local furrier or leather specialist can confirm this quickly if you're unsure.
Can an old sheepskin coat with cracked leather be restored?
Often, yes, if the damage is limited to dryness or surface cracking. A specialist who works with leather and sheepskin can recondition the hide and address minor damage. Severe, deep cracking throughout the leather is harder to fully restore, but a specialist can tell you honestly what's realistic.
Where's the best place to sell an inherited sheepskin coat?
Vintage and secondhand marketplaces such as Vinted, Depop or eBay tend to have real buyer interest in well-made vintage sheepskin coats, especially with recognisable branding. Specialist vintage clothing dealers and local tailors or furriers are also worth approaching, particularly for higher-value or notable pieces.
Is it safe to wear a decades-old sheepskin coat as is?
If it passes a basic condition check - supple leather, no serious moth damage, sound stitching - then yes, it's generally fine to wear after a gentle brush and airing. If the leather feels stiff, brittle or cracked, have it assessed by a specialist before wearing it regularly.
Does Nursey Sheepskin buy back or restore old coats?
We don't currently offer a buy-back or restoration service, but we're always happy to answer questions about caring for an inherited coat - feel free to contact us. For cleaning, restoration or reselling, a local furrier, leather specialist or vintage clothing marketplace is the most realistic route.