Baa Baa Black Sheep, Have you any wool?

NOT ANYMORE, he doesn't!

I recently received two boxes of leather and fabric samples via UPS from Hong Kong and China. They contained materials for upcoming styles to be produced in the next year. Many of the materials never make it pass the drawing board phase due to quality issues. But most of the "exotics" have already been selected for future production. So I am doing "after the fact" testing on 30+ samples.

One piece really caught my eye. It was labeled as Black Shearling. That's Sheep!!! The feel was exquisite. As I shared it with others in the company, they mostly said 'ewwwww' or 'yuk' .

What's the difference in "fur" and leather? We use leather by the tons. Is it because cows are also food? And their hides are by-products?

Given the small size of this hide, other parts of the animal in question may have been on some one's Easter/Passover table.

Can ya pass the mint jelly???