How to Tell If a Sheepskin Coat Is Real: Expert Winterwear Advice

1. Why Sheepskin Authentication Matters More Than Ever

In the booming world of UK outerwear, the Sheepskin coat has become a style icon and a winter essential. Whether you’re browsing boutiques in London or comparing prices online, you’ve probably encountered a growing problem: How do you know if that luxurious-looking coat is real sheepskin or a clever fake?

As UK 2025 trends head towards sustainable materials and premium cold-weather wear, the line between genuine sheepskin and synthetic shearling has never been more blurred. Faux versions are cheaper, often mass produced and aggressively marketed making it harder for consumers to tell the difference between real and imitation.

What’s at stake? A real sheepskin coat gives you natural insulation, breathability and decades of wear, while faux versions often disappoint on warmth, longevity and comfort.

In this guide you’ll learn how to spot the tactile, visual and structural differences between the real deal and its synthetic imposter so your next investment in a Men’s Sheepskin Coat or women’s shearling is worth every penny.

2. Anatomy of Genuine Sheepskin: What It’s Made Of

To tell the difference between real and faux you need to first understand what genuine sheepskin really is. Real sheepskin is a single piece of material, the leather hide and the natural wool fleece combined. This can’t be replicated by layering synthetic materials.

The hide side has a supple, porous suede or grain finish, while the wool side is dense, soft and irregular. These two parts are naturally bonded they’re not glued or stitched together like faux versions.

Sheepskin’s natural properties include:

·         Breathability: Allows air to circulate, reduces sweat buildup.

·         Insulation: Traps heat next to the body.

·         Moisture-wicking: Keeps skin dry for long wear.

·         Lanolin: A natural oil in wool that softens and self-cleans.

See it here: Men’s Black Sheepskin Shearling Car Coat

3. The Touch Test: Feel Your Way to the Truth

The quickest and most effective way to spot a fake is through touch. Authentic sheepskin feels soft as butter, with a grainy or velvety texture on the leather side and deep, spongy wool on the other. Faux shearling has a slippery, plastic surface and the fleece is coarse or too uniform.

Try this:

·     Rub the inner fleece does it bend softly and feel warm? Or is it flat and synthetic?

·   Press the leather side with your palm real sheepskin should absorb warmth and feel slightly soft under pressure.

·  Flex the material. Real sheepskin bends like a dream, synthetic materials crack or feel stiff.

A real sheepskin coat should give you an instant sense of thermal hug even without layering underneath.

4. Visual Cues: Spotting Authenticity at a Glance

Your eyes can often pick up what your hands may miss. Real sheepskin displays natural imperfections not flaws, but evidence of authenticity. These can include:

·         Irregular grain textures

·         Variations in wool density

·         Asymmetric curl patterns

·         Minor blemishes on the leather backing

Faux coats look too perfect, too symmetrical, and too uniform in both color and texture. If the wool is perfectly shaped or looks like it’s been machine-trimmed, you’re likely dealing with synthetic.

A perfect visual example? The Men’s Winter Sheepskin Shearling Fur Coat shows rich, high-pile fleece with irregular patterns you won’t find in imitation coats. Look at the wool variation and leather backing in-person or in high-res images.

5. Weight and Drape: The Gravity of Real Quality

Real sheepskin has heft. One of the most overlooked, yet most telling, ways to authenticate is by feeling the weight and drape of the coat.

·         Real sheepskin is heavy, due to the dense wool and hide.

·         When hung, it drapes naturally, curves around shoulders and arms.

·         Faux alternatives are too light, bulky without weight, and may lack movement.

Pick up the garment does it feel solid, balanced, and warm before you even put it on? That’s the sign of authenticity.

Our Black Shearling Sheepskin Leather Car Coat shows this weighted luxury. As soon as you put it on, the coat conforms to your body, protection and style.

6. The Scent of Authenticity: Leather’s Natural Signature

Yes, real sheepskin smells different. One of the most underrated authenticity tests is the scent test. Genuine sheepskin has a subtle, earthy leather smell from the tanning process and natural lanolin in the wool. It’s not overpowering but distinct clean, musky, and organic.

Fake sheepskin smells like:

·         Plastic

·         Chemical glue

·         Artificial perfume (to cover manufacturing smells)

This artificial scent is strongest when coats are new or unwrapped from plastic packaging.

Our Men’s Whiskey Sheepskin Hooded Duffle Coat has that unmistakable signature scent of tanned hide and fresh wool. If your coat doesn’t pass the smell test, it likely fails all others too.

7. The (Optional) Burn Test: A Buyer’s Caution Tool

Not recommended for full garments, the burn test can help determine fiber composition when dealing with swatches or small areas.

Here’s how real sheepskin reacts to flame:

·         Wool fibers singe, smell like burning hair, and turn to ash.

·         Synthetic fibers melt, curl, and emit a strong chemical/plastic odor.

Warning: Do this only on a sample, label edge, or with professional assistance. Mishandling fire can damage the coat or void warranties.

Use this as a last resort if all other indicators are inconclusive.

8. Interior Lining, Stitching & Hidden Clues

Sometimes the truth is in the details. Real sheepskin jackets don’t need separate linings. The fleece you see inside is the actual wool attached to the leather. Fake shearling however is often constructed with:

·         Textile inner lining

·         Glued fleece

·         Visible stitching that hides foam or filler

Also inspect the stitch density, seam smoothness and finish. High end real sheepskin coats will have:

·         Double stitching

·         Folded hem finishing

·         No signs of glue, mesh or filler layers

This internal craftsmanship not only signals authenticity but durability something synthetic coats rarely offer.

9. Pricing Clues: What’s Too Good to Be True?

In today’s crazy fashion market prices often reflect quality especially when it comes to outerwear. Real sheepskin is expensive for a reason. It requires:

·         Ethical animal sourcing

·         Skilled labor

·         Precision tanning

·         Slow, intentional production

If a coat claims to be real sheepskin but sells for under £200 (unless on clearance) be cautious. Sheepskin coat UK prices tend to reflect the material value, craftsmanship and longevity.

Here’s what to look out for:

·         Ask about sourcing: Real sellers are proud of their supply chain.

·         Check for brand transparency.

·         Look for language like “genuine sheepskin” or “100% shearling” (and beware of “shearling-style”).

Our premium Men’s Sheepskin Coats are priced to reflect the real effort that goes into each piece tailored, lined and tested to ensure authenticity and performance.

10. Final Buyer’s Guide: Build Your Authentication Instinct

The best buyers aren’t just looking for style they’re looking for lasting value. Over time you’ll develop an instinct for real sheepskin by combining touch, weight, visuals, scent, and construction clues.

Recap your checklist

·         Trust your senses especially touch and smell

·         Study the wool texture and grain finish

·         Note the weight and movement

·         Inspect interior stitching and seams

·         Ask for certification or transparency

·         Don’t ignore price realism

Authenticating a Men’s Sheepskin Coat is as much an art as it is a science. It’s a journey of learning what real quality feels like and once you’ve experienced it you won’t settle for less.

Want to Learn More?

Difference Between Sheepskin Jacket and Shearling Jacket

Learn how terminology and structure vary hint: they’re not always the same thing.

Sheepskin vs the Rest: Which Winter Coat Truly Performs?

Discover why sheepskin outlasts wool, down and synthetics in performance and longevity.

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Looking for a stylish edge in a darker tone? Check out our aviator collection for men in black leather.

Buy Once, Buy Well

In the end a sheepskin coat is not just a buy – it’s an investment in warmth, quality and timeless outerwear. It becomes part of your winter self and gives you real insulation and comfort in the unpredictable weather.

With this guide you’re no longer exposed to synthetic imitations. Instead you’re armed with the knowledge and instinct to choose what lasts, feels better and aligns with you.

Real style. Real warmth. Real sheepskin.