The sky is the limit for Skyeskyns on a world stage

Scaling globally with Team Scotland support

Skyeskyns is now one of only two commercial sheepskin tanneries in the UK. It’s the only one in Scotland producing premium sheepskins, home accessories and sustainable clothing using traditional artisanal methods and natural tanning agents such as mimosa bark.

Skyeskyns is much more than a manufacturer –  it's a destination and a brand. The tannery is a five-star visitor attraction, offering tours that showcase the craft behind every product.

Alongside the tannery, the business operates a boutique in Portree, a pop-up yurt café, and a thriving online store serving customers worldwide.

Since 2023, Skyeskyns has worked closely with Scotland’s enterprise agencies to accelerate growth and expand internationally. Support has included:

• Help with strategy: shaping long-term international positioning
• Research and insights: data-driven market entry and decision-making
• Domestic and in-market support: practical delivery assistance
• Event participation: showcasing at key trade events in Europe and the US
• Financial support: market research and business development in North America

In 2025, support from our international arm, Scottish Development International, enabled Skyeskyns to undertake a US market research visit. 

This included major trade shows in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago and New York to build buyer relationships and gain market insights that resulted in securing a distributor.

Further international support enabled a follow-up visit to the US and Canada, including exhibiting at Shoppe Object in New York. In this city the company engaged buyers and secured significant export orders from the North American market.

Innovation through design: the Tenter range

Building on over 40 years of leathercraft on the Isle of Skye, Skyeskyns launched Tenter Scotland. This is a new range of handcrafted leather goods designed in collaboration with Glasgow School of Art that blends traditional skills with contemporary design.

The new product range shows the company’s commitment to innovation, design-led growth and scalable product development, and will strengthen the appeal to international buyers.

The Tenter collection features hand-marked, marbled, bark-tanned leather pieces. Each is uniquely finished by artisans on the Isle of Skye. This range includes purses, bags, card holders, bookmarks, and journal covers that appeal to both domestic and international lifestyle markets. Every product is produced with sustainability in mind. 

“Skyeskyns is a fantastic example of a company pairing tradition with innovation. The firm is turning opportunity into success by researching global demand, embracing new ideas and partners, and backing ambition with considered risk-taking.”

Lynne Carstairs, Senior International Trade Specialist. 

Inspired by Scotland, crafted for the future

From its origins on a Skye croft to an international presence, Skyeskyns reflects the authenticity, innovation and global ambition of Scotland’s consumer sector.

With continued support from our international team, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the business is well placed to scale across its core sheepskin range and new Tenter collection.

A newly opened showroom with a leather craft area in Portree, along with future plans for increasing tannery production capacity will support growing demand.

With strong foundations and growing momentum, Skyeskyns is on an upward trajectory.

All this from products that trace their roots back to Scotland – from the Isle of Skye where heritage, craftsmanship and sustainability know no limits.