Reindeer skin - A fantastic natural product
For thousands of years, reindeer skin has been treated and used for both practical and aesthetic use. The reindeer is the animal associated with the Sámi people and today there are no longer any wild reindeer in Sweden. The Sámi people manage this heritage and move the reindeer long distances, often between the Nordic countries, in order to offer the reindeer the best protection and food opportunities for the season.
Today, reindeer skins are made for both outdoor and indoor use. Thanks to the traditional knowledge about the reindeer skin's characteristics in combination with modern, sustainable technics, companies north of the Arctic Circle are able to offer reindeer skin products with the highest quality.
Reindeer skin for outdoor use
Be seated warm and dry, regardless of the weather, on silicone-treated reindeer skin. Reindeer skins that have been treated with silicone are moisture-proof, both from below and above. The hollow structure of the reindeer hair makes the skin isolate the cold from below. The soft skin is easily rolled up and has a low weight which makes it easy to bring with you on your adventures.
The reindeer has always been the Sámi people’s most valued possession. The reindeer was not only used in trading and as a means of payment. Most importantly it helped keep the families well fed and clothed. The reindeer’s rich milk was used for drinking and for making cheese. The meat, fat, and intestines were a source of important nutrition, and the sinews were used as strings to tie and sew with. The reindeer hide kept you warm and protected from the weather, and they were also used for all kinds of crafts. Even the antlers, which fall off and regrow every year, were used in various ways.
Today, the reindeer’s meat is seen as a delicacy, and after the slaughter in the autumn, the reindeer skins are collected to make sure nothing of the animal is wasted.
The preparation of the reindeer skins
The skins are salted or dried right after slaughter. This stops the natural decaying process so that the skins can be processed at the tannery. When at the tannery the inside of the skin is cleaned of any residue of meat and fat, making them smooth and ready for washing. Certain enzymes are then used to break down the fats in the skin, preparing them for the tanning process. The tanning itself is done with a type of acid. In some instances, chrome sulfate is used for this process, but as it has been deemed harmful to human health, it’s of course, better to use natural tanning agents, such as bark. After the tanning, the skins are greased, before being stretched and dried. The reindeer skins are then ready to be used!
Why are reindeer skins so useful to us?
The hollows trap air inside them, and the density of the fur makes the hairs withstand pressure, keeping the air locked in. This is the reason reindeer skins feel nice and warm when you sit on them, even when the ground underneath is freezing cold. They also feel incredibly soft and smooth to the touch.
The reindeer’s fur is slightly shorter and thinner in the autumn, and longer and denser in the winter. This means skins with winter fur have slightly better insulating properties, but also that the longer hairs are more sensitive to wear. You should always treat your reindeer hides gently!