Product lifecycle

Our Design Philosophy

  • We design products for real homes and real people. 

  • We believe products should be easy to care for, last a lifetime and be safe for your family to live on. 

  • We want our products to be multipurpose so that one piece can follow you around the home, wherever you need a cosy place to rest. 

Ethical Sourcing

Unlike many other parts of the world, New Zealand sheep enjoy the freedom of a grass-fed diet. Thanks to the cool to warm temperate climate, sheep are able to freely roam outside in their natural habitat for a full 12 months of the year.

What makes New Zealand’s pastoral farming truly unique is that it steers clear of factory farming methods, which typically confine stock to crowded indoor barns to live off supplementary feed through the winter months. New Zealand sheep are raised with the utmost care, allowing them to thrive without the need for such practices. 

The Animal Welfare Act

New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999 places a strong emphasis on the duty of care owed to animals. This Act gives a clear understanding of what it means to look after animals. It outlines the responsibilities of animal owners and those in charge of animals, ensuring they meet their physical, health, and behavioural needs. From providing proper food and water, to offering adequate shelter, the Act leaves no stone unturned. But it’s not just the basics that matter – the Act recognises the importance of allowing animals to exhibit their natural behaviours, ensuring they have the freedom to be themselves. Additionally, it emphasises the significance of appropriate physical handling and swift detection of any injury or illness to protect their well-being.

To support the Animal Welfare Act, New Zealand has regulations and animal welfare codes in place. Regulations have specific requirements that must be met, leaving no room for compromise. Meanwhile, animal welfare codes establish minimum standards and promote best practices for various animals and animal-related activities. These codes play a crucial role in continuously improving animal welfare across New Zealand.

Production

Heritage Crafted

While we do our best to make our product look natural and uncomplicated, the truth is that designing, tanning and manufacturing sheepskin is complex and requires a great deal of craft and technical know-how.

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Roots of Craftsmanship
Roots of Craftsmanship

Before there was Wilson & Dorset, Ben (co-founder) was working in his family’s business which was already exporting sheepskin.

Legacy in Xuanhua
Legacy in Xuanhua

Alongside other international partners, they set up a world class tanning facility for luxury products in Xuanhua, China, that today is still run by a close friend of the Wilson family, Leroy Parker.

Strategic Innovation
Strategic Innovation

The decision to manufacture in China was not a cost cutting one, but a way for the factory to serve and keep up with global sheepskin demand while accessing world class innovation in tanning and manufacturing technology.

AUSKIN
AUSKIN

Today, the company which owns and runs the tannery, Auskin, are committed to building a sustainable business that benefits all their stakeholders, and every aspect of the business is built with longevity in mind. Workers are paid fair wages, while the factory works with Oeko-Tex, Intertek, SEDEX and SMETA standards and is a ISO 9001:2015 certified supplier to ensure all parts of the chain are over and above global standards.

Partnership
Partnership

We value this relationship of over 30 years with our international partners, and we consider them to be more like friends than business partners. We don’t shop around, we don’t buy at auction, we don’t follow price. We hope to continue to work with our friends at Auskin for many years to come.

In Partnership with Wisewool

We don’t want to play any part in the continued production of synthetic fibres in our product or supply chain, which is why we are stoked to now be in partnership with Wisewool. 

Wisewool

Wisewool

Wisewool is a fifth-generation family business that innovates and manufactures 100% New Zealand wool products and allows us to create ‘fully woolly’ footstools, cushion inners and stone sets using Wisewool’s engineered wool bud filling.

Tradition, innovation, and craftsmanship

Tradition, innovation, and craftsmanship

The result is products that are truly feel-good on every level, providing a ‘springy’, resilient and long-lasting experience. Each product is from the land, harnessing wool’s natural attributes, and will return to the land at the end of its long life. You can find out more about WiseWool by visiting their website.

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