Black Sheep’s Sheepskin Vest

The writing for this sheepskin vest is really neat, as it takes the opportunity to talk about the founding days and philosophy of the company in the 1983 catalogue as expansion was in motion. They describe this as a popular item, but I don’t find it in pre-1983 catalogues other than once in 1980 listed as a Basque Sheepskin Vest.

From the Fall/Holiday 1983 Catalogue: “Five years ago, we hung up our shingle outside our Mill Valley store, wondering whether anybody out there possibly shared our then uncommon view that the best attire was classic and made from all-natural fibers. We were not left long to wonder. The customers who found us were a delightful parade of one-of-a-kind characters, individualists all, self-appointed black sheep who saw things their own way, knew what they liked, knew what they wanted. The item they all wanted more than any other was our natural Sheepskin Vest. Then, as today, it seemed to symbolize our shared attitude about clothing. It’s rugged and natural, simple and functional. We’ve been wearing ours year end, year out–over our t-shirts on cool coastal summer nights and over sweaters in the winter. There are two patch pockets and invisible fur hooks to keep the vest closed in the wind. This vest puts you as close to nature as any garment we sell. Brought to us by the greatest Designer of them all, the Inventor of Sheep.”

Photos from an October 2020 eBay auction.