Inside Our Tannery

From wool-on sheepskin to reliable, high-value material.

Our tannery in Ergene, Tekirdağ is the heart of Erdogan Deri. It is where carefully selected wool-on sheepskins are transformed into consistent, high-performance materials for footwear, garments, double-face shearling, accessories, upholstery, technical products, medical sheepskins and many other applications. Built on more than twenty-five years of tanning experience and continuous investment in technology, our tannery combines traditional know-how with modern, sustainable production practices that are specifically designed for wool-on sheepskin.

On this page, you can discover how we work, see inside and outside our factory through the images, and understand what makes our sheepskin tannery a trusted partner for manufacturers and brands around the world.

A modern wool-on sheepskin tannery in Türkiye

Located in one of Türkiye’s key industrial regions, our tannery serves both domestic customers and many well known companies in Europe and the Far East. We manufacture wool-on sheepskin and double-face sheepskin articles for a broad range of sectors, including:

• Footwear and slippers
• Double-face garments and outerwear
• Hats, gloves and fashion accessories
• Upholstery, home textiles and interior comfort
• Polishing, paint rollers and technical applications
• Medical and specialty sheepskin products

Our dedicated focus on wool-on sheepskin allows us to offer stable quality, technical support and short lead times for customers who rely on sheepskin as a critical component of their products.

We work with reliable, traceable raw hide suppliers and purchase assorted wool-on sheepskins that are already graded by selection criteria such as wool length, density and skin size. Even so, every batch is checked again as soon as it arrives at our tannery. Our technicians re-sort the skins according to quality and planned end use before they enter the production line, which helps us keep a very stable standard from lot to lot.

In our factory, we regularly process sheepskins from British, Australian, American and South African origins, each with its own strengths and typical applications:

• British origin sheepskins – We primarily use British-origin pelts for double-face (twinface) shearling and suede-facing articles, where the suede side is a key “show surface”. British selections are preferred by footwear and apparel customers because they deliver a refined, even suede nap and a reliable structure that performs well in production and maintains a clean suede look

• Australian origin sheepskins – Australian-origin pelts are among the most versatile in global use and are often Merino-based, known for being soft next to skin while still offering strong technical performance. This origin supports a wide range of applications in our production: footwear linings, medical sheepskins, lambswool polishing pelts, and decorative/interior pelts. It is also a strong base for naturally curly sheepskins, widely used in upholstery and interior design (including Scandinavian-led trends).

• American origin sheepskins – The most distinctive advantage of American-origin pelts is their larger cutting yield (jumbo pelts are common, often around 12 sq ft in premium grades), combined with a dense, soft wool handle and a stronger suede side compared to many alternatives. In our tannery, we treat these as a premium, supply-limited selection (internally referred to as “Imperial”) and allocate them to projects that require high yield, premium suede quality, and consistent comfort.

• South African origin sheepskins – South African-origin pelts can be lighter in substance with a soft, fine wool feel, which makes them especially suitable for the apparel sector, particularly collars and jacket panels where drape and low weight are important.

By understanding the character of each origin, we can match the right raw material to the right process and the right final product.

Every sheepskin that enters our tannery follows a clearly defined, traceable process designed to protect both the leather side and the wool. Like other leading wool-on sheepskin tanneries around the world, our production is built on stages such as soaking and washing, degreasing, pickling, tanning, retanning, drying and finishing, all adapted specifically to wool-on material.

Sorting and preparation
After arrival and initial quality check, the skins are sorted once more in our factory by wool type, density, length, colour and skin substance. Each group is directed to a process route optimized for its final use – for example:

• double-face and garment articles requiring a clean, fine suede and balanced wool,
• footwear and slipper linings that must combine comfort with durability,
• medical sheepskins that demand high, dense wool piles and special processing,
• polishing, paint roller and technical uses that need specific mechanical performance.

This internal grading step is a key part of how we maintain consistency.

Because we work only with wool-on sheepskin, washing and degreasing are critical. The skins are gently rehydrated and washed in dedicated sheepskin drums using specialized detergents that cleanse the skin and wool without damaging the fibers. Excess natural fats and impurities are removed in several controlled stages so that the leather side can tan evenly and the wool remains full, resilient and clean.

Once washed, the skins are pickled to bring them to the right pH and salt level for tanning. In our wool-on sheepskin drums, we then apply carefully controlled tanning recipes that include:

• chromium tanning, for high performance and durability,
• vegetable and other alternative tannages,
• special medical and chrome-free processes for sensitive and medical articles.

Retanning, softening and fatliquoring steps follow, adjusting the character of the leather side and helping to define properties such as softness, body, flexibility and resistance to wear. By fine-tuning these stages, we can meet different performance, comfort and regulatory requirements across markets and applications.

All chemicals and dyes used in our tannery are sourced from trusted European suppliers, and our production is carried out in full compliance with European REACH standards, including current restricted-substance lists.

After tanning and retanning, sheepskins are dyed in modern drums in the colours requested by our customers. We work with European dye suppliers whose products are designed for high fastness, clarity and compatibility with wool-on sheepskin. Precise control of time, temperature and drum movement helps us achieve clean, bright suedes and uniform, lustrous wool.

The skins are then carefully dried, conditioned and mechanically softened. Depending on the article, this can include:

• staking and milling to soften the leather side,
• controlled buffing of the suede for double-face,
• shearing or clipping to an exact wool height,

ironing, combing and brushing to give the wool a regular, luxurious appearance.

For our specialty, natural and medical sheepskin articles, we use dedicated technologies that differ from those applied to standard products. In these ranges, we rely on chrome-free tannages and specific process routes designed to meet demanding health, hygiene and comfort requirements.

Our medical-type sheepskins are developed to offer:

• high comfort and cushioning thanks to dense, springy wool piles,
• stable, controlled wool height and density,
• moisture management and temperature regulation,
• performance aligned with international expectations for medical and pressure-relief sheepskins.

Where appropriate, we use dedicated drums and process parameters for these sensitive articles and avoid substances that are restricted under health and safety legislation.

Beyond standard collections, our tannery is a development partner for brands and manufacturers who need more than an off-the-shelf article. Supported by in-house R&D, we apply contemporary trends, new finishes and process innovations to wool-on sheepskin to help our customers differentiate their products.

We offer:

• tailor-made colours, feels and finishes,
• support in building sheepskin ranges and collections,
• project-based developments for new markets and applications,
• contract manufacturing and private-label production.

Thanks to our vertical structure, which also includes our own sheepskin product workshop, we understand both material and mfinished-product requirements and reflect this knowledge back into the tannery.

Quality and sustainability are embedded in our tannery operations. In line with our corporate mission and vision, we aim to minimize our environmental footprint while delivering reliable materials that meet the expectations of brands, manufacturers and end users.

In our tannery we:

• work according to European and international standards for sheepskin production,
• focus on recyclable and eco-conscious production methods,
• optimize the use of water and chemicals through process control and continuous improvement,
• apply corrective and preventive actions across all departments to solve problems systematically and avoid repetition,
• monitor environmental and social performance as part of our corporate responsibility commitments.

The images from both inside and outside our tannery reflect this approach: organized, transparent production areas, modern machinery, and a team that takes pride in what it creates.

From Ergene, Tekirdağ, we supply wool-on sheepskins to partners across Türkiye, Europe and many other regions, helping them unlock the full potential of this natural material. Whether you are looking for a stable supplier for your existing sheepskin articles or a development partner for new projects, our tannery team is ready to support you with:

• consistent, high-quality wool-on sheepskin materials,
• flexible tanning technologies and a wide variety of article types,
• technical support from raw material to finished product,
• a transparent, long-term partnership approach.

We invite you to explore the photographs from our tannery and to contact us to discuss how Erdogan Deri can support your next collection or project.