Two jackets can look identical on a hanger, one lined in real shearling and one in faux fur, and feel completely different on a January morning. They also differ in weight, price and how long they last. This guide explains what shearling actually is, how faux fur and faux shearling compare, and which lining to choose for your climate and budget.
What shearling is
Shearling is a sheepskin tanned with the wool still attached. The leather side faces out, the wool faces in, so the jacket is one piece of material that is both the shell and the lining. It is the material of the B-3 bomber jacket, and it is the warmest thing a leather jacket can be made from because the wool fibres trap air against your body while the leather blocks wind.
Because shearling is a single hide, a true shearling jacket is heavy, expensive and has a distinctive look: the wool shows at the collar, cuffs and hem.
What "shearling-lined" means
A shearling-lined jacket uses a separate leather shell (sheepskin, cowhide, goatskin) with shearling or a shearling-look fabric sewn in as a lining. This is how most "shearling" jackets under $300 are made, including ours. It gives you the warmth and look of shearling at the collar and inside, with a lighter weight and a lower price than a full shearling hide.
On Arvo product pages, the lining is named: "shearling lining" means real wool-on sheepskin panels; "faux shearling" or "faux fur" means a synthetic pile.
What faux fur and faux shearling are
Faux fur is a knitted or woven synthetic pile, usually polyester or acrylic, made to look like fur or sheep's wool. Good faux shearling is dense, soft and warm; cheap faux fur is thin and flattens quickly. It is lighter than real shearling, far cheaper, and easier to care for, but it does not breathe the same way, so it can feel clammy if you overheat.
Side-by-side
| Real shearling | Shearling-lined | Faux fur / faux shearling | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Highest | High | Medium to high |
| Weight | Heavy | Medium to heavy | Light to medium |
| Breathability | Excellent (wool wicks moisture) | Good | Poor to fair |
| Durability | Decades | Many years | Pile flattens over 2 to 5 years |
| Price | High | Moderate | Low |
| Care | Specialist cleaning | Wipe shell, brush lining | Wipe shell, brush lining |
| Allergies / ethics | Animal product | Animal product | Synthetic |
| Look | Wool at collar, cuffs, hem | Wool at collar and inside | Similar to shearling-lined |
Which to choose
- Cold winters, want the warmest option: real shearling or a shearling-lined B3. See shearling jackets.
- Cool climate, want the look without the weight: a faux-fur-collar bomber or aviator with a quilted body lining. See bombers and aviators.
- Riding: avoid a large shearling collar, which catches wind; a shearling-lined biker with a smaller collar is better. See biker jackets.
- Prefer no animal lining: faux shearling, clearly labelled on our product pages.
- Budget: faux-lined styles sit at the lower end of our range; shearling-lined pieces at the upper end, still under $200.
Sizing a lined jacket
Shearling and faux fur take up room. Choose your usual size and expect to wear a tee or thin knit underneath, not a sweater. If you plan to layer heavily, size up once. Shearling collars also sit high, so check the collar is comfortable zipped fully. Our fit guide has the measurements.
Caring for shearling and faux fur
Real shearling: brush the wool with a soft brush to lift the pile, air it after wear, and have it professionally cleaned if it is heavily soiled. Never machine wash. Condition the leather side once a year.
Faux fur: brush gently, spot clean with a damp cloth and mild soap, and keep it away from heat, which melts synthetic fibres. If the pile flattens, a soft brush and a cool hair dryer on the lowest setting from a distance can revive it.
Both: store on a wide hanger with room around the jacket so the collar keeps its shape. More in our leather jacket care guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is shearling warmer than down?
For a jacket of the same thickness, shearling is comparable and blocks wind better because of the leather shell. Down is lighter and packs smaller.
Is sheepskin the same as shearling?
Shearling is sheepskin with the wool left on. Smooth sheepskin leather has had the wool removed.
Does faux fur look cheap?
Dense, short-pile faux shearling looks close to the real thing. Long, shiny faux fur looks synthetic. Check the close-up photos on the product page.
Which Arvo jackets have real shearling?
The B3 bomber, the shearling-lined bikers and the shearling coats. Each product page states the lining; see the shearling collection.