Handmade Luxury
Customers flock from all over to get their hands on a Skyeskyns fleece
THERE’S a business at Waternish on Skye’s northern peninsula which is preserving one of the island’s oldest professions – tanning. The tradition of tanning goes back thousands of years, but until Clive and Lydia Hartwell opened up Skyeskyns Tannery in 1983 the craft was in danger of dying out on Skye.
Now the family-run firm – daughter Jess is now heavily involved – has become one of Skye’s top attractions, with nearly 20,000 visitors every year. All the fleeces made at Skyeskyns are used for interior design, with customers flocking from all over the world.
“Clive and Lydia took over the equipment from a local tanner based in Geary,” says general manager Dave Till.
“At that time, most islands would have a tannery. Going back further, most towns with livestock sales would have also had a tannery associated with the abattoir. There are now only two or three sheepskin tanneries left in the whole of Scotland.”
Visitors are given a free guided tour, and are transported back in time to witness how real sheepskins are crafted. Traditional implements are used – paddles, racks, buffing wheel – as well as a lengthy hand-finishing process. This creates the world-famous Highland hand-combed fleece, which is exclusive to Skyeskyns.
“We make a lot of bespoke rugs, cushions and chair covers, to specific designs and colours and sizes for people so that it fits in with their home,” says Dave.
You can make yourself at home among the handfinished fleeces, as Skyeskyns have recently expanded with a pop-up tea tent, Yurtea&coffee. Sit by the wood-burning stove on sheepskin rugs and enjoy some home-baking in the yurt, which opens seasonally.
Being a family business is one of the core reasons for Skyeskyns’ success.
“Lydia and Jess bring a caring attitude to the business,” says Dave. “Meeting visitors in the car park to invite them to hear the story of leather in our working tannery is a good example of this. We take time to talk to our customers and make them feel part of the family.”