Icelandic Sheepskin

Icelandic sheepskin

Icelandic sheep grow a long, loosely falling coat that has not been bred for uniformity, and it shows. Hair lengths vary across a single hide, which is what gives Icelandic sheepskin its airy, slightly wild look.

How it behaves

It reads soft from across a room and moves when you touch it. That makes it a good choice draped over a chair back, a bench or the arm of a sofa, where the length can hang and catch the light.

Underfoot in a busy room, the longer hair will separate and want brushing more often than a denser hide. If the rug is going on an open floor, New Zealand sheepskin holds its shape with less upkeep.