Fenland Sheepskin was founded in 1982 in the UK by Andrew Tinnion, from the dying embers of the once mighty Morland Sheepskin Tannery, which occupied the position of the UK’s leading tannery until its demise.

The Vision

Fenland was founded to provide work for a local tannery and was a family run business employing many local people in the area. Andrew Tinnion brought his expertise and vision to the company and pioneered the use of enzyme technology.

In 1992 Andrew Tinnion became Chairman of the Real Sheepskin Association as recognition of his expertise and achievement in the industry. He was a prominent character and worthy of the position he had earned. Fenland benefitted greatly as a business having one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry on board and Fenland went from Strength to Strength.

Through Fenland Sheepskin, Andrew Tinnion played a major role in shaping the industry it is today. He retained the core values he learnt at his time at Morlands, collaborating and partnering with local farmers and later designers such as Vivienne Westwood in order to promote a British made natural product of extremely high quality. Working closely with design graduates and educating new generations on the traditions of sheepskin, Fenland Sheepskin became the de facto ‘The University of Sheepskin’. However, the sustainability of UK manufacturing faced many challenges over the years with increased costs and a shortage of skilled workers, the activity at Fenland Sheepskin began to slow down and in 2006 Fenland Sheepskin was one of only 3 woolskin tanneries remaining.

In 2008 with the financial crash to the Market and many UK business being effected by the Recession, Fenland Sheepskin was also under pressure, with Andrew facing health issues at this late stage in his life the business unfortunately started feeling the effects of the current climate.

Andrew’s lifetime service to the Leather Industry and Sheepskin Tanning was recognized during a celebratory Reception and Lunch at the Leathersellers Livery Hall in the City of London in June 2008, attended by a unique gathering of Industry members, colleagues and former tanners.

Unfortunately with Andrew’s Death in 2009 Fenland was struggling to maintain direction & leadership. Unfortunately in 2011 fenland was forced to close its UK doors. An industry with a history dating back several hundreds of years could no longer compete with a world that had caught up, and surpassed, this country’s achievements in tanning technology and expertise. China, particularly, was instrumental. Its own drive for competition with the West saw its technological advances in tanning techniques outstrip that of Fenland’s and many other small cottage industries. The scarcity of expert craftsmen in Britain took its toll over time. The traditions and skills once passed on from one generation to another simply became lost, and costs too, were a major contributor in Fenland’s closing. They were out manoeuvred by more competitive and advanced techniques by hungry new entrepreneurs across the world.

Re-invention

In 2011 the Fenland Sheepskin UK brand was bought by FLS Ltd based in Birmingham, also a family run business spanning over 4 decades worth of experience in the leather industry wanted to bring back to life what Andrew had left as a Legacy in the Sheepskin Industry.

The Vision

In order to re-instate Fenland Sheepskin to its former glory FLS set out to ensure that they held the Values & DNA of what Fenland was once renowned for, putting Sheepskin & Natural products at its core it was time to bring quality sheepskin products back to the High street.

The vision was to combine the best Quality Sheepskin & Manufacturers to give the Fenland customer great quality at exceptional value for money.

Fenland Sheepskin also set out to expand their ranges, offering more than just Sheepskin clothing, with plans to add Sheepskin Furnishing, Slippers and Accessories to make Fenland Sheepskin your complete lifestyle brand.

Our UK in-house team of designers and purchasers ensures the name will follow its own path into the future. They will keep the standards at the exceptional levels you expect from such a renowned name. The designs will reflect tradition, but also the present.

Over the last ten years, FLS have been developing the brand and improving its manufacturing process to retain the core values of its traditional heritage and combine modern manufacturing methods with ethical global sourcing to create a new vision for the future.

Sourcing ethical sheepskin from Australia, New Zealand, Spain and the UK, our products are now manufactured overseas to utilise modern manufacturing methods and retain an exceptionally high standard of quality and workmanship in everything we do.

Since the re-launch we have expanded the selection of products from Outdoor Clothing to Home Furnishing & Slippers/Accessories and Fenland has really reinvented itself as the true Sheepskin Specialist that Fenland was once founded to be.

It is our mission to keep the Fenland story alive, to retain the heritage of the original Fenland brand and build upon its quality and reputation. To combine tradition, sustainability and technology for a new generation of wearers and become your favourite at home wardrobe staple.