The best slippers ever for the whole family

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I never really thought we were a matching slippers sort of family. But it’s amazing how having settling down can change a person. One day, you’re strolling down the aisle in a lacy dress and the next it’s all onesies and matching slippers.

The best slippers ever

My obsession with these slippers started a few years ago, when I bought a pair for Libby. I’d heard that my friend was making slippers with wool from her sheep. The business is called Runaway Baa Baa and the sheep are kept on a small holding in Scotland called Standingstone Hill. I bought Libby’s slippers to support my friend, as I know how tough it is running your own business.

But then, they arrived. And I realised I’d made a huge mistake only buying one pair. The uppers are pure wool or mixed fibres, whilst the base is cut from sheepskin. This means that the inner sole has a very thick, warm layer of wool lining. Our house has the original wooden floorboards throughout and it can be very cold. I’ve never really found a pair of slippers to properly fend off the cold, but with these you don’t even notice it.

About Runaway Baa Baa

Runaway Baa Baa operates from the Standingstone Hill smallholding in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Here, they keep a flock of sheep which are mainly a hardy breed called Manx Loaghtan. The sheep are sheared onsite, and the wool is washed outside in a bath with a fire underneath. It is then dried on a fence or in a poly tunnel and carded with a drum carder.

They then spin the wool, wash it in hot water to set the twist in the wool and dry it again. At this point, the wool is ready for making the slipper. Not all wool used for the slippers comes from their own sheep because demand exceeds supply.

The cold foot

A couple of years ago, my husband had an accident and broke his leg. To cut a long story short, the leg is still broken. And there was clearly some damage to the blood supply along with the break, because he has had a permanently cold foot ever since.

Last year, I got sick of the whining and bought my husband some battery operated socks. They are supposed to keep you warm as the socks themselves have a mini heater in. But he never did work out how to use them.

So this year, I went for the low-tech approach with a pair of Runaway Baa Baa slippers. And at last, the foot has warmed up and the whining has stopped. This has been an ongoing problem for the past two years, I only wish I’d bought some before.

Choosing our slippers

These slippers can be made in your choice of colours. I knew Lia would want something pinky and Libby wouldn’t be too worried as long as hers were a bright colour. I decided on autumnal colours and my husband went for black. We are all delighted with our choices and can’t wait to get them on each day when we get home.

I love the ethical way these slippers are produced. There are no factories, sweatshops, chemicals or carbon footprint from transporting the materials. Everything takes place at the same location and in buying them, we are supporting a small business rather than a global one. And best of all, they really are the best slippers ever for the whole family.

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