It’s sad to read the news that Suffolk-based sheepskin clothing maker, Nursey’s of Bungay, has just closed down. The traditional, family-run business had been trading since 1846, passing down through five generations to current owner Tim Nursey.

The company used Toscana and Merino lambskin as well as Italian leather, to make sheepskin coats, slippers, gilets, gloves and hats.

Nursey’s struggles and search for a buyer had been reported in both the Daily Mail and on the BBC website but no purchaser could be found in time, so the Bungay firm closed its doors for the last time on 29th March 2014.

A lot of traditional skill and knowledge will potentially be lost with Nursey’s demise. Its workshop had a team of seven expert seamstresses and cutters – many of whom had been with the company for more than 25 years.

Keeping local sheepskin skills alive

At Fabulous Fleece Company, we’re determined to ensure great quality sheepskin items are still produced in the East Anglian region and that a businesses selling them can still thrive in today’s market.

We also want to keep alive the specialist skills of those who work with sheepskin. We use skilled, local leather workers - one with over two decades experience - to make our range of bags, accessories and clothes.

We’re currently working on new designs to expand our range, and as our business continues to grow online, we plan to employ more local workers to meet that demand. Here’s to helping make a more optimistic future for sheepskin goods from East Anglia!