There's a particular kind of loyalty people have to their slippers. Not to slippers in general, but to their pair. The ones by the back door, moulded to the shape of their feet, that nobody else in the house is allowed to borrow.
Our Sheepskin Snuggly Slippers are our best-selling slipper by a distance. So it's worth asking what it is about them.
Made by Wendy, in Hastings
The Snugglies come from Whip It Up. That's Wendy Clark, who makes cowhide and sheepskin products by hand in Hastings. Every pair is made by hand, crochet detailing and all, with a quality she guarantees.
That's why no two pairs are quite identical, and why the colour tones shift a little from one to the next. It isn't something we'd apologise for. It's simply what happens when a person makes a thing rather than a machine, and it's why they look like something made for you. They rather were.
You can see more of her work over on Whip It Up's Facebook page.
What you're getting
Plush, woolly fleece on the inside, suede on the outside, and an indoor sole reinforced with cowhide so they hold up to daily wear. They're a forgiving fit, which makes them kind to wide feet.
The colours change
Wendy switches the colours up now and then, so what's on the shelf isn't a fixed range. A new one appears, another has its run and goes. It's part of working with a maker rather than a factory.
Worth knowing, mostly for practical reasons. If you see a colour you like, don't hang about waiting for it. It may not be there next season.
Why wool does this so well
Few materials are as comforting as sheepskin, and there's a reason it's been a staple in New Zealand homes for generations. It isn't only that it's warm.
It's a natural insulator. Wool traps air, and it's the air that holds the warmth. That's why sheepskin keeps your feet warm without feeling heavy on them.
It breathes. This is the one people don't expect. A slipper that's genuinely cosy usually leaves your feet stuffy by evening. Sheepskin doesn't, because the wool lets air move and keeps things balanced rather than simply hot.
It wicks moisture away. Wool draws moisture off the skin instead of trapping it against your foot, so they stay dry and comfortable through a long evening.
It's naturally antimicrobial. Which is the polite way of saying sheepskin slippers wear well. They don't turn on you the way synthetic linings tend to.
It lasts. Wool fibres flex without breaking. Treated decently, a pair sees you through winter after winter.
They become yours
Sheepskin settles over time. The wool packs down under the shape of your foot and stays that way, so a pair you've had a few years fits you in a manner a new pair simply can't. It's why people won't part with them, and why a pair is worth the short breaking-in.
A pair for everyone
The Snugglies suit most feet, which is half the reason they end up being bought two and three pairs at a time. One for you, one for whoever keeps borrowing yours. The forgiving fit helps here too. They're an easier gift to get right than most footwear.
And keep an eye out. There's a children's version in the works. If all goes to plan it should land in time for the northern hemisphere winter, which would mean the whole family in Snugglies, small feet included. We'll let you know when they arrive.
Looking after them
Not much to it. Air them out rather than washing them, spot clean when they need it, and keep them away from direct heat. No radiators, no hot sun. That's what dries the leather and shortens their life. Do that and they'll see you through a good many winters.
Have a look at the Snugglies, the rest of our slippers, or read more about the fibre itself.
