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Felt slippers made from wool of endangered sheep breeds for ladies
The project to preserve endangered sheep breeds is particularly close to our hearts. By buying a pair of women's felt slippers made from the wool of endangered sheep, you not only support the preservation of biodiversity, but also local shepherds from the region. We currently use the untreated natural wool of eight endangered sheep breeds. With every purchase of a ladies' felt slipper made of undyed wool from endangered sheep breeds, you are also actively contributing to the preservation of the endangered species. Each endangered sheep breed is special in its own right, which is why we will take the liberty of making a small digression here and briefly explain each of the rare sheep breeds:
- Tyrolean Stone Sheep: The Tyrolean Stone Sheep is one of the oldest sheep breeds in the world. Currently, there are only about 6,000 sheep left. This endangered breed impresses with its warm, very resistant wool, which has a silky sheen. With a coat of coarse top hair and very fine, silky undercoat, the Tyrolean Stone Sheep defies the harshest weather. Our slippers made from Tyrolean Stone Sheep wool are very robust and comfortable for the feet. We have slipper models with cork soles, our patented felt latex sole, rubber soles or with soles made of vegetable-tanned leather. We also have hut shoes for your next alpine hike and overnight stay in a hut made from the wool of the Tyrolean stone sheep.
- Tyrolean Mountain Sheep: The Tyrolean Mountain Sheep is a cross between the Tiroler Steinschaf and the northern Italian Bergamaskerschaft. About 10 years ago, only 70 animals existed in Tyrol and even today the Tyrolean Mountain Sheep is threatened with extinction. The wool of the Tyrolean mountain sheep is cognac-coloured to brown and captivates with its down-to-earth colour mottling. In our product portfolio, we have produced our felt slipper bestseller Magicfelt from the wool of the Tyrolean mountain sheep and offer it with our patented felt latex sole or with our vegetable-tanned leather sole.
- Swiss Jura sheep: The Swiss Jura sheep originated in French-speaking Switzerland. The wool of the Swiss Jura sheep is very fine, almost comparable to merino wool. The wool of the Swiss Jura sheep is elb-coloured to chestnut-brown, sometimes it can even be black. From the wool of the Swiss Jura sheep we produce our Magicfelt slippers with our patented felt latex sole as well as with leather sole made of vegetable tanned leather.
- Shetland sheep: The Shetland sheep is native to the Shetland Islands in Scotland. The wool of the Shetland sheep is very fine, soft and crinkly. The wool of the Shetland sheep comes in many different Ntur colour variations. For our slippers we have chosen the colour "moorit", a very warm, light brown. Felt slippers made from Shetland wool are very robust and comfortable for the feet. We produce clogs with cork soles, Magicfelt slippers with our patented felt latex sole or with a sole made of vegetable tanned leather as well as cottage slippers from the wool of the Shetland sheep. In addition, we also produce whale fabrics from the wool of the Shetland sheep.
- Gotland sheep: There are only about 9,000 purebred Gotland sheep left on Gotland. Did you know that Vikings already traded the wool and skins of Gotland sheep? This very old, rare breed of sheep is notable for its silver-grey coat. Both the females and the males have powerful horns. We use the wool of the Gotland sheep to make our Magicfelt slippers, which are available with leather soles, felt latex soles or rubber soles. This slipper is particularly light and the silver-grey wool of the Gotland sheep makes it a special eye-catcher.
- Coburg chestnut sheep: The wool of the coburg chestnut sheep is very rare, as there are only a few thousand sheep of this breed left. The wool of the coburg chestnut sheep is also called "golden fleece" because of its golden yellow to reddish brown colour. Over time, the coat of the coburg chestnut sheep lightens, but retains its reddish shimmer. We make our Magicfelt slippers from the rare wool of the Coburg chestnut sheep with leather soles.
- Moorland sheep: The moorland sheep is one of the oldest sheep breeds in Central Europe and, according to the IUCN, was considered almost extinct. Thanks to breeding, there are now about 5,000 animals again. This rare breed of sheep lives in moorland and, unlike other sheep breeds, can swim. What is special about the wool of the moorland sheep is that it has a pure white coat. Their wool felts much harder than other sheep breeds. The felt slippers made from the wool of the moorland sheep impress with their noble appearance. The undyed and untreated wool is brilliant white. This gives the slippers a very special appearance. Slippers made from the wool of the moorland sheep are available from us in the Magicfelt version with leather soles.
In addition to wool from endangered sheep, we also use precious, very rare wool from yak, as well as alpaca wool and camel wool.
- Yak wool: Originally, the yak comes from the Himalayan mountains. Yaks live in Central Asia at altitudes of up to over 6,000 metres. For the mountain nomads living there, the animals are the most important source of livelihood. Yak wool is one of the very rare precious wools. Thanks to its special fibre structure, yak wool is warm even in double-digit temperatures below zero. Our slippers made of yak wool are particularly soft and warm and are available as Stegmann felt clogs with cork soles or as Magicfelt slippers with leather soles.
- Camel wool: Our camel wool comes from the Altai Mountains. Camels are considered true survivors, as they can handle temperature fluctuations from +50°C to -30°C without any problems. The valuable camel wool is known for its beautiful colour, its softness and its special warmth. This wool is very rare and valuable. We make our Magicfelt slipper with leather sole from camel wool. This slipper is suitable for people who want something very special.
- Alpaca wool: Our alpaca wool comes from the Andes and is very soft and shiny. The wool of alpacas is three to five times warmer compared to sheep's wool. Therefore, alpaca felt slippers are especially suitable for people who always have cold feet. We produce these slippers in the popular Magicfelt model with leather soles. We also make wool sneakers from alpaca wool.
What makes wool slippers made from untreated wool so special?
The special thing about our slippers made from untreated wool is that you actively support the preservation of endangered sheep breeds with every pair of slippers you buy. For our heart project, we work regionally with small shepherds from Europe, who are also actively supported by the sale of our slippers made from wool of endangered sheep breeds. Furthermore, untreated sheep's wool contains a lot of lanolin, which has a particularly beneficial effect on your body. Slippers made from untreated wool can relieve joint pain and also help with rough feet. In order for untreated wool to develop its effect best, we recommend wearing our slippers barefoot. This way the untreated wool works where it should - directly on your skin! Feel the pure nature and the effect of untreated wool directly on your feet.
Where does the wool for our felt slippers come from?
We obtain the rare and untreated wool for our felt slippers for the most part from regional sheep farmers in Europe. Depending on the endangered sheep breed, the countries of origin vary. Rare noble wools such as alpaca, yak and camel are sourced from the respective region. Our alpaca wool comes from South America, yak wool comes from the Himalayan mountains and our precious camel wool comes from the Altai mountains.
For our Magicfelt felt slippers, we use wool from Merino sheep, except for the rare wools. This wool is mulesing-free and comes from South America, South Africa or New Zealand. If you are wondering why we do not use Merino wool from our latitudes, we have the answer for you: Merino sheep have a very fine wool fibre. If we keep this breed of sheep in our latitudes, the Merino sheep grows a much coarser wool due to the weather. To protect itself from the cold and the weather, the Merino sheep adapts to our climate and its wool is then suddenly no longer fine enough to be recognised as Merino wool.
You can read more details about our endangered sheep breeds here.
What distinguishes our untreated wool from merino wool?
Wool is a natural product. European wool is too coarse for clothing, which is why 48 million tonnes of wool are simply thrown away every year in the EU.
That's exactly why we were looking for ways to use this valuable raw material sensibly and do something good at the same time. This is how we came up with the idea of producing felt slippers from untreated wool and subsequently promoting the preservation of endangered sheep breeds. Although European wool is coarser than Merino wool, it still combines all the positive properties of sheep's wool and, in addition, undyed natural wool contains a lot of lanolin, which in turn has a demonstrably positive effect on the human body. It is not for nothing that healing wool is often used for inflammations and pain.
Did you know that if a Merino sheep is kept in Europe, its wool will still be coarser than Merino sheep kept in New Zealand or South Africa? The harsh European climate is responsible for this. That is why we have deliberately chosen to make our slippers either from very fine merino wool from South Africa or New Zealand, or from wool from endangered sheep breeds in Europe. Merino wool from South Africa or New Zealand guarantees a consistently high fineness and quality. It is also guaranteed mulesing-free, as mulesing is banned by law in New Zealand and South Africa.
The biggest difference of untreated wool compared to merino wool is the biodiversity and the characteristics of the individual endangered sheep breeds. If you want to know more about these sheep, you can find detailed information here. We are currently actively protecting eight endangered sheep breeds in Europe with our project.
What footbed should ladies' slippers made of untreated wool ideally have?
Our slippers made of untreated wool from endangered sheep breeds are available in different designs. Depending on which types of wool are currently available, we have different models of felt slippers in our range. There are Stegmann clogs with an anatomically formed footbed or felt slippers that are seamlessly formed over a last, which we call Magicfelt. Our Magicfelt slippers have an anatomically shaped footbed and a non-slip sole made of felt or a leather sole. So you can choose the slipper made of untreated wool that feels best for your feet.
How do our felt slippers made from untreated wool ensure sweat-free feet?
Untreated wool can develop its effect particularly well on your feet. Since sheep's wool is temperature-balancing, antibacterial and beneficial to your health, wool is the perfect raw material for our men's slippers. Especially in its untreated form, wool can unfold its properties even better. With our slippers made of untreated wool from endangered sheep breeds, you can feel the beneficial effect of untreated wool directly on your feet!
Which seasons are our wool felt slippers best suited for?
Wool felt slippers keep your feet nice and warm in winter, and thanks to the temperature-balancing properties of wool, you can of course also wear our wool slippers in summer without hesitation. Wool felt slippers are the perfect companion all year round. Untreated wool contains a lot of lanolin, which has been proven to have a beneficial effect on your body. Lanolin is the so-called wool fat that is naturally present in wool. Lanolin can be particularly helpful for joint pain and dry skin.
Why should you buy women's felt slippers made from untreated wool at Gottstein?
Women's slippers made from untreated wool are not only a special eye-catcher, but also have a proven beneficial effect on your body. In addition, with every pair of slippers made from untreated wool you buy, you actively support the preservation of endangered sheep breeds in Europe and our regional shepherds.