Australian Sheepskin Apparel

What Australian Sheepskin Apparel does

Australian Sheepskin Apparel is a privately held Canadian manufacturer, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that produces Australian Medical Sheepskin (AMS) products certified to the AS4480.1 Australian medical standard. Its portfolio spans four categories: bed and chair overlays and wheelchair accessories; medical footwear (boots, slippers, mules); body protectors (heel, elbow, palm, limb); and wound care, anchored by the proprietary SheepZorb sterile wound dressing. The core technology is natural Merino sheepskin with approximately 75,000 hollow fibers per square inch, enabling 80°C thermal-disinfection laundering, 11x moisture absorption by weight, and maintenance of body-surface temperature at 37°C for pressure redistribution and blood-flow support.

The company sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its Shopify-based e-commerce site (australianmedicalsheepskins.com), shipping worldwide since August 2018 and offering free Canadian shipping over $200. Domestic Canadian distribution runs through an authorized dealer network spanning eight provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon) plus Pharmachoice (United Pharmacists) pharmacy retail placement. Customer segments include acute-care and long-term care facilities, home-care settings, diabetic and mobility-impaired individuals, arthritis sufferers, and a smaller veterinary use case. Pricing is unit-based with one-time purchases (90-day warranty), spanning $63.85 CAD elbow protectors to $1,760.25 CAD bariatric bed pads, supplemented by the Skinsan detergent-sanitizer, which is positioned as required for warranty compliance and acts as a consumable attach product.

The business is founder-led by Stephen Playford, has operated for over 25 years without external funding, and runs with 1-10 employees. Its positioning rests on regulatory-grade certification (AS4480.1), proprietary brands (SheepZorb, Skinsan), and a 22+ year body of clinical evidence and testimonials, including from Alberta Health Services, Royal University Hospital, and Shoppers Home Health Care, rather than on technology differentiation.

Name

Australian Sheepskin Apparel

Legal name

Australian Sheepskin Apparel

Website

https://australianmedicalsheepskins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australian Sheepskin Apparel is a privately held Canadian manufacturer founded in 1996 that produces AS4480.1-certified Australian Medical Sheepskin products - bed and chair overlays, medical footwear, body protectors, and SheepZorb sterile wound dressings - for healthcare facilities, diabetic and mobility-impaired patients, and pharmacy retail, sold via global e-commerce and a Canadian dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Sheepskin Healthcare Products

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Wound Care, Bandaging & Consumables (Dressings, Sutures, Staplers) (HLAMAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Practice Consumables & General Medical Supplies (Needles, Syringes, Gloves, Swabs) (HLAMAFAO), Hospital Equipment & Clinical Furniture (Tables, Cages, Lighting, Warmers) (HLAMAFAJ), Sheepskin & Shearling Processing (IMAOAGAK), Pharmacy, Biologics & Veterinary Supply Dispensing (Farm Animal) (AFACADAM)

Keywords

• Medical sheepskin products
• Pressure sore prevention
• Wound care dressings
• Medical footwear accessories
• Healthcare bedding overlays

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical Sheepskin Products: Direct sales of medical sheepskin products including bed pads, chair pads, footwear, wheelchair accessories, heel/elbow protectors, wound dressings, and sheepskin boots. Products sold directly to consumers and through dealer network. One-time product purchases with 90-day warranty.
2. Skinsan Detergent: Sale of proprietary Skinsan sheepskin detergent-sanitizer in 250ml ($27.30), 1L ($75.70), and 4L ($191.05) sizes. Required for maintaining product warranty.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Australian Sheepskin Apparel manufactures and sells Australian medical-grade Merino sheepskin products certified to the AS4480.1 standard. Its portfolio includes bed pads, chair and wheelchair pads, medical footwear (short/long/split boots, slippers, mules), body protectors (heel, elbow, palm, limb), the SheepZorb sterile wound dressing line, and the proprietary Skinsan detergent-sanitizer. Products are designed to prevent pressure sores, heal wounds, and provide comfort for patients with arthritis, diabetes, edema, and mobility limitations.

Product overview

Australian Sheepskin Apparel is a Canadian manufacturer of Australian Medical Sheepskin products for medical and healthcare applications. The product portfolio is organized into four main categories: (1) Bed and Chair Pads including overlays, bariatric pads, bed wraps, wheelchair covers and pads, and Broda chair accessories; (2) Footwear including medical boots (short, long, split variants), slippers, mules, and wrap-around slippers; (3) Body Protectors including heel, elbow, palm, and limb protectors; (4) Wound Care including SheepZorb sterile wound dressings and medical coccyx pads. A complementary accessory is Skinsan Detergent, the required sanitizer for laundering medical sheepskin products. The products are designed for pressure sore prevention, wound healing, and comfort for patients with conditions including arthritis, diabetes, edema, and mobility limitations. All medical-grade products are dyed green and comply with Australian standard AS4480.1, featuring 75,000 fibres per square inch, high-temperature machine washability (80°C+), and urine/fecal resistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Bed Pads (MSHE, MSHEP, MSHP4, MSHP5, BWM1) Medical-grade Merino sheepskin bed pads in multiple sizes (MSHE 40"x30", MSHEP 85"x30", MSHP4 48"x30", MSHP5 60"x30", BWM1 12"x30") featuring 75,000 fibers per square inch for pressure redistribution and bed sore prevention. Designed for patients in beds, chairs, and home care settings.
• BBP Bariatric Medical Bed Pad (70" x 60") Large-format bariatric bed pad measuring 70" x 60" for larger patients. High-temperature washable medical grade sheepskin certified to AS4480.1.
• Wheelchair Covers and Chair Pads Comprehensive wheelchair and chair pad accessories including seat and back covers, armrest covers, calf pads, foot rests, contoured/standard wheelchair pads, Broda chair specialized accessories, walker grips, and knee walker pads. Designed for pressure relief for mobility-impaired individuals.
• Medical Footwear (Short Boots, Long Boots, Split Boots, Slippers, Mules) Medical-grade sheepskin footwear available in short boots, long boots, short split, and long split designs, plus medical slippers and mules. Available with suede or rubber soles and in sizes Small to Extra Large. Designed to maintain limb temperature at 37°C, increase circulation, and prevent foot/ankle pressure sores for diabetic and mobility-impaired patients.
• SheepZorb Sterile Wound Care Pads Sterile, microbial absorbent sheepskin wound dressings (4"x4") available in boxes of 10 (SZ10) or 25 (SZ25). Designed for superior wound healing by absorbing moisture away from the wound bed, promoting blood flow, and preventing bacterial breeding. For use on persistent diabetic and other chronic wounds.
• Body Protectors (Heel, Elbow, Palm, Limb, Coccyx, Lumbar) Medical sheepskin body protectors for targeted pressure relief on heels, elbows, palms, limbs, coccyx, and lumbar areas. Includes heel protectors, EPSM elbow protectors, palm protectors (with optional finger separators), limb pressure guards, medical coccyx pads for use inside incontinence garments, and LS3 lumbar support cushions.
• Skinsan Detergent-Sanitizer Proprietary hospital-strength disinfectant detergent with wetting agent for leather, flushing agent for wool fiber, and bacteriostat that kills 99% of bacteria. Available in 250ml, 1L, and 4L sizes. Required for laundering medical sheepskin products and maintaining product warranty.
• Baby Cosy Steps (Infant Sheepskin Products) Baby sheepskin products designed for infant comfort and temperature regulation in cribs. Limited availability product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% success rate in bedsore healing and prevention when conditions met (adequate protein, medications, circulation, medical supervision)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pharmachoice (United Pharmacists)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Pharmachoice pharmacies across Canada for retail distribution of Australian medical sheepskin products through pharmacy network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mölnlycke Health Care: World-leading wound care and surgical solutions company (Mepilex, Avance NPWT). Broad incumbent in pressure injury prevention that competes with ASA's wound care products in hospital and homecare settings.
• Coloplast: Global leader in ostomy, continence, and wound & skin care. Competes in pressure ulcer prevention category alongside ASA, particularly with Biatain and other advanced wound dressings sold to hospitals and homecare.
• 3M Health Care: Diversified healthcare conglomerate with skin and wound care, securement, and surgical products. Competes with ASA across hospital pressure care and advanced wound dressings at massive scale.
• Smith & Nephew: Global medical device company with major advanced wound care franchise (Allevyn, PICO). Competes with ASA in the wound care category served by SheepZorb but operates at vastly greater scale across hospitals worldwide.
• ConvaTec: Global medical products company with significant advanced wound care and ostomy franchises (Aquacel, DuoDERM). Competes with ASA in the wound dressings category served by SheepZorb.

Direct peers

• Shear Comfort: New Zealand-based manufacturer of medical sheepskin products for pressure care and wound prevention. Directly comparable to ASA's bed pads, boots, and wheelchair accessories, serving the same pressure-sore prevention use case with similar AS4480.1-equivalent medical standards.
• Australian Medical Sheepskin (parent supplier / Auskin): Australian producer and global distributor of medical-grade sheepskin products. Comparable product category (medical sheepskin bed pads, boots, wheelchair covers) and competes with ASA for institutional and consumer pressure-care customers.
• Sheepskin Ranch: US-based sheepskin product manufacturer and retailer offering medical-grade sheepskin slippers, boots, and bed pads. Comparable product portfolio to ASA focused on pressure care and consumer health applications.
• Down Under Wool: North American distributor of Australian sheepskin medical and consumer products. Overlaps with ASA on medical sheepskin boots, bed pads, and slippers for diabetic and pressure-care use cases.

Emerging players

• Sundance Medical Sheepskin: Smaller competitor focused on medical sheepskin overlays and bed pads for pressure ulcer prevention. Direct overlap with ASA's bed pad and overlay product lines for nursing home and home care customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/@aussheepskin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCP8Q7uO_7Wj-eOVHCVrCFHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/australiansheepskinapparel
• Instagraminstagram.com/australian_sheepskin_apparel
• Pinterestpinterest.ca/australiansheepskinapparel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-sheepskin-apparel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Sheepskin Apparel