Clara the Sheep

One fine morning in the beautiful countryside of Kent, Clara decided she would go for an adventure. Now, keep in mind that Clara was a sheep and all sheep find that even a tasty new bit of grass can be an adventure. So please don't expect cowboys and Indians along with secret maps with buried treasure and that sort of thing.

Clara was the sort of sheep that thought outside the box, by this I mean she understood that all animals were different and led different lives. I mean when you speak to a cow they think you are mad for not being more cow and why are you on the other side of the fence when you should be with them in the cow zone. I mean really, what nonsense...

The chickens are no better, scared of simply everything and run around as if they have lost their minds. Squawking and clucking at almost everything, even scared of their own shadow. You speak to a chicken for a minute and it makes you want to be flapping and neck jolting. Of course we all know the chicken dance works in most scenarios and especially when a laugh is required at parties. Now we can go on and explain all the various animals among us but this story is about an adventure so lets get back to that.

One morning Clara was chewing on some dew fresh grass when a cat called Stormy proudly strided up to her. Stormy was a dark grey cat with two big yellow cat eyes. He was of course a very proud and egotistical cat very much the opposite to Clara who was so laid back that if she was anymore relaxed she would simply fall over. Now Stormy had seen something fabulous and knew how excited Clara would be once he told her. After much chatting about this special wonderful place that Stormy had seen they decided to start planning their adventure.

The cat and sheep planned this adventure for days. You see sheep like to do a lot of thinking why else would they chew so much grass. Cats on the other hand are 'do'ers but they love tactics, watch a cat hunt and you'll know exactly what I mean. So finally the plan was set, they were going to meet at the secret hole in the fence at first light on the night after the full moon. Of course being the lovely kind nature of sheep Clara made Stormy a perfectly fitted Cossack Hat which was perfect for keeping the chill out. They wandered down and along a dry but earthy lane which had a wooden fence running along the side. Stormy couldn't resist jumping up and down from it, if not showing off his jumping talents to Clara but certainly feeding his well oiled ego.

They finally came to the field which Stormy had described, bright magnificent yellows were everywhere. Big green stalks stood proudly with the most magnificent yellow things hanging from it. This is truly a fabulous place... Clara decided to eat the yellow things and after much crunmching and munching she lay on her back and gazed up to the sky. Today was most certainly a good adventure. They both cuddled together with big grins on their faces.

The Cossack / Russian Style Hat

The Cossack / Russian Style Sheepskin Hat

All our sheepskin products are handmade at British Sheepskin and this one is in particular another family favourite. Yes it's true all the boys as well as the girls wear them in our house but only at particular times which just happens to be when we have all had a skinful. We seem to get into one of those, 

"Let's all wear a silly hat!"

Our Cossack / Russian hats aren't normally described as silly but when a room of fully grown men put them on believe me the atmosphere changes. Empowering and simply fabulous... Well that's what we think in any case.

The word or name Cossack actually refers to certain groups of people that lived in Eastern Europe and Russia during the 16 to 18th century. They were military in nature and many served as border control for various towns and valuable trading posts. Due to the cold weather they needed to keep warm hence the fur hat. At British Sheepskin we actually use sheep instead of fur as with a sheep the entirety is used for various purposes. Nothing goes to waste with a sheep.

A Cossack wearing a Cossack / Russian style hat

As you can see by the picture above a lot has changed but the same design is still there. When you buy a Cossack / Russian hat from British Sheepskin and put in on your head you instantly feel like it will be keeping you nice and warm.

These type of hats don't normally come in many sizes especially when they are made out of sheepskin. The nature of sheepskin is to stretch to fit your head perfectly. The size starts around 23" but once you wear it it stretches to become a nice snug fit.

British Sheepskin Cossack / Russian hat

So When did the Cossack / Russian hat come into fashion?

It was actually Look magazine that was allowed to go into Russia in 1967 to photograph the fashion and what was there but the fashionable Cossack hat. Many different furs were used for these glorious hats. See her Royal highness below wearing a fox Cossack / Russian hat click here to see more on NIBS blog.

Queen Elizabeth II wearing a Fox Cossack / Russian Hat

We pride ourselves on quality and using the very best material so you can feel comfortable when you buy from British Sheepskin.