MAKER OF SHEEPSKIN BOOTS & SLIPPERS: MY STORY
Hello, I’m Xanthe, pronounced Zan-thee. I launched Xanthe Anna in 2021, a small independent business making sheepskin boots and shearling slippers in Wales. I use natural, low-impact materials and take care with every detail, creating footwear that’s beautiful, comfortable, and designed to last.
How did I become a maker of boots and slippers?
I’m asked this question often. In the ‘90s, a school careers computer programme first suggested I become a shoe designer. With hindsight, I wonder how the algorithm knew. I didn’t believe it at the time, and it’s taken a few twists and turns to get here.
From theatre designer to running creative workshops, each step taught me something new. When I moved to Wales in 2008, I joined a small team making boots and slippers, learning new skills. In 2021, I took the leap to set out on my own, honing techniques and developing my own style.
Today I keep a small flock of sheep on a smallholding in Wales, which has given me a deep respect for sheepskin and informs my work at the sewing machine.
Sewing and making have been part of my life since childhood, and I still enjoy working with colour and design. I love to create; it’s instinctive, absorbing, and there’s a quality in the handmade that can’t be matched by mass production.
From my workshop near Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire, I make each pair from start to finish. I cut the sheepskin, emboss, skive and burnish the leather heels, sew the uppers, bind the edges, and fix the soles.
Each stage has taken time to refine. I’ve spent years testing, adjusting, and improving my techniques to meet the quality and standards I set. Even now I’m learning, always striving to make each pair a little better than the last.
I believe in making things well, with care and attention to detail, so they can be worn, repaired, and loved for years.
Sheepskin slippers in warm earthy tones, inspired by the richness of the wilderness: dark brown, wine red and ginger sheepskin with a flash of copper.
Secure on your feet without being too tight, these slippers are designed for lasting comfort.
These slippers will be made especially for you. They’ll take a little longer to arrive, but it means nothing is made unnecessarily, a more sustainable way to shop.
Sheepskin slippers in Blueberry combine soft dusky pink, rich wine red, and navy. Inspired by the richness of ripened berries and the warmth of summer sunsets, this soothing colour scheme is perfect for relaxing at home. This sheepskin is strong, super soft and breathable, wrapping your feet in cosy warmth.
These slippers are made when you order. It’s worth the wait. It means there’s less waste and no overproduction.
Silky soft slippers in stormy blues and greys with a flash of silver, striking and sophisticated. Slip your feet into thick, soft sheepskin that’s cosy and warm.
These slippers are not mass produced, but made to order. This reduces waste and allows for a more considered, sustainable production.