Product Knowledge

Shearling is the term adopted by the fashion industry to describe lambskin where the wool remains attached to the leather after the tanning process.

Sustainability

The shearling skins used in our collection are mainly processed using CO², a more sustainable tanning method than the traditional method of using water. By using this method we avoid an excessive amount of water wastage.

For more information on our sustainable approach visit our sustainability page.

Characteristics

Shearling is a natural material therefore natural imperfections and variations in texture and shade of the wool should be expected and seen as intrinsic qualities of this beautiful material and not a fault.

Shearling is a versatile and wonderful material. The leather and wool can be dyed, printed and embossed to create endless combinations.

For more information visit our skin guide.

For styling ideas why not follow us on Instagram: @karldonoghue and on Youtube: Karl Donoghue

Caring for your Karl Donoghue piece

• Our collections are designed and crafted in London using the highest quality materials and trims to create a luxurious product that should last a lifetime if cared for well. We call this “Luxury for Life”.
• Avoid wearing your shearling in heavy rain, this may affect the texture of the leather and straightened wool. If caught in the rain, shake off excess water and allow drying to occur naturally (on a broad-shouldered coat hanger) out of direct sunlight.
• Suede pile can be revived by gently rubbing with a soft suede brush or dry sponge. Where wool has been straightened it can be combed with a fine metal tooth comb or brush to revive the pile.
• When new, wool fibres can transfer to clothing because of the hand cutting methods used in the production process.
• If your shearling piece requires cleaning, always use a specialist cleaner following the instructions on the care label. It is advisable to remove any horn buttons/poppers/buckles before cleaning. Cleaning can affect applied finishes to the shearling. Discuss this with your specialist cleaner first.
• Shearing can be protected on the leather side using a leather spray. Test a small area first following any instructions on the can. We cannot accept responsibility for any results to the article.
• Sunlight can cause shearling to fade or change colour therefore it is advisable when storing your piece to keep it in the original dust bag. Never store your piece when damp or wet. Store in a low humidity location, never in a closed plastic bag.

Following these guidelines and the information on the product care label will help you to maintain the natural beauty of your Karl Donoghue piece for many years to come, a far more sustainable approach to fashion.

We use the highest quality lamb leather in our collections. This beautifully soft material is a natural by-product of the meat and dairy industry.

Characteristics

Leather is a natural material with natural imperfections and variations in texture and shade. These should be expected and seen as intrinsic qualities of this beautiful material and not as faults.

Feel

We often present our leather designs, unlined creating a super lightweight feel. As the weather cools try layering a shearling piece under or over your leather for added warm and style.

For styling ideas why not follow us on Instagram: @karldonoghue and on Youtube: Karl Donoghue

Caring for your Karl Donoghue piece

• Our collections are designed and crafted in London using the highest quality materials and trims to create a luxurious product that should last a lifetime if cared for well. We call this “Luxury for Life”.
• Avoid wearing your leather in heavy rain, this may affect the texture of the leather. If caught in the rain, shake off excess water and allow drying to occur naturally (on a broad-shouldered coat hanger) out of direct sunlight.
• Suede pile can be revived by gently rubbing with a soft suede brush or dry sponge.
• Leather products can be protected using a leather/suede spray. Test a small area first following any instructions on the can. We cannot accept responsibility for any results to the article.
• If your leather piece requires cleaning, always use a specialist cleaner following the instructions on the care label. It is advisable to remove any horn buttons/poppers/buckles before cleaning.
• Sunlight can cause leather to fade or change colour therefore it is advisable when storing your piece to keep it in the original dust bag. Never store your piece when damp or wet. Store in a low humidity location, never in a closed plastic bag.

Following these guidelines and the information printed on the product care label will help you to maintain the natural beauty of your Karl Donoghue piece for many years to come, a far more sustainable approach to fashion.

Calfskin describes the leather which comes from a calf. Hair on calf describes a skin where the hair remains attached to the leather after the tanning process.

Characteristics

Calfskin and hair on calf is a natural material therefore natural imperfections and variations in texture and shade should be expected and seen as intrinsic qualities of this beautiful material and not as a fault.

Calfskin/hair on calf is a versatile and wonderful material. The leather and hair can be dyed, printed and embossed to create endless combinations. For more information visit our skin guide.

For styling ideas why not follow us on Instagram: @karldonoghue and on Youtube: Karl Donoghue

Caring for your Karl Donoghue piece

• Our collections are designed and crafted in London using the highest quality materials and trims to create a luxurious product that should last a lifetime if cared for well. We call this “Luxury for Life”.
• Avoid wearing your calfskin/hair on calf in heavy rain, this may affect the texture of the leather. The hair is more naturally resilient to water than the nappa. If caught in the rain, shake off excess water and allow drying to occur naturally (on a broad-shouldered coat hanger) out of direct sunlight.
• If the calfskin has a suede finish the pile can be revived by gently rubbing with a soft suede brush or dry sponge.
• When new, hair fibres can transfer to clothing because of the hand cutting methods used in the production process.
• Excess rubbing can cause the hair to bald or shed overtime. To prolong the life of your product avoid using should straps.
• If your calfskin piece requires cleaning, always use a specialist cleaner following the instructions on the care label. It is advisable to remove any horn buttons/poppers/buckles before cleaning. Cleaning can affect applied finishes to the leather. Discuss this with your specialist cleaner first.
• Calfskin can be protected on the leather side using a leather spray. Test a small area first following any instructions on the can. Do not spray the hair side. We cannot accept responsibility for any results to the article.
• Sunlight can cause calfskin to fade or change colour therefore it is advisable when storing your piece to keep it in the original dust bag. Never store your product when damp or wet. Store in a low humidity location, never in a closed plastic bag.

Following these guidelines and the information on the product care label will help you to maintain the natural beauty of your Karl Donoghue piece for many years to come, a far more sustainable approach to fashion.

Our KD2 concept range, crafted in London combines luxurious shearling and leather with showerproof nylon allowing the wearer flexibility with the changing weather patterns.

Styles with detachable liners
The lightweight showerproof nylon can simply be worn by itself during milder weather. As the seasons change and the weather becomes cooler, add the detachable shearling liner to the nylon outer. The liner can be fastened inside during wet weather protecting your shearling from the rain while keeping you warm. You can choose to wear your liner over the nylon outer if you want to create a statement look. The liner can even be worn by itself as a gilet!

Styles with fixed lining
Many of the nylon & shearing accessories can be reversed. For a cosy showerproof look keep the nylon on the outside with the shearling against the body. For more of a statement, reverse and show the shearling on the outside.

Caring for your Karl Donoghue piece

• Our collections are designed and crafted in London using the highest quality materials and trims to create a luxurious product that should last a lifetime if cared for well. We call this “Luxury for Life”.
• We recommend specialist dry cleaning for the nylon pieces because they are trimmed with shearling or leather so you should not wash them at home.
• Small marks on the nylon can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth.
• If you are caught in the rain wearing your nylon product, simply shake off the excess water before allowing to dry naturally (on a coat hanger) away from direct sunlight.
• Our liners are produced using the highest quality shearling. You can download our ‘shearling’ product knowledge information for more details on to look after your shearling pieces.
• For all products, always refer to the care labels stitch to the item before cleaning.
• Never store your product while wet. When fully dry, your item should be stored in the fabric dust bag provided, not in a plastic bag. This helps protect from UV damage, attack from moths and humidity.

Following these guidelines and the information printed on the product care label will help you to maintain the natural beauty of your Karl Donoghue piece for many years to come, a far more sustainable approach to fashion.

Cashmere is the term used to describe a specific type of wool that is made from the hair of the Capra Hircus Goats living in the mountains of Inner Mongolia. Long considered to be one of the softest and most luxurious types of wool in existence.

Sustainability

We procure yarn from yarn mills adopting sustainable practices, supported with documentation. Our yarn supplier is certified to process and spin the long fibres into yarn, by dehairing the topcoat from the fine undercoat before they wash it and dry it on a flat surface due to its delicate nature.

Our factory employs ethical manufacturing and trade practices. The complete production chain does not harm any of the components, from the animals to the farmland and natural ecosystem. The factory is certified by a local body for sustainable production and fair trade.

Their family run business is in big support of women empowerment with more than 70% of the employees being female. We also practice worker welfare training sessions to make sure our working conditions are the best possible.

For more information on our sustainable approach visit our sustainability page.

Characteristics

Cashmere is a lightweight and soft material, used to reach the highest quality of luxury knitwear products. A cashmere product is lighter in weight than a product made of any other wool and is said to be 8 times warmer on average.

For styling ideas why not follow us on Instagram: @karldonoghue and on Youtube: Karl Donoghue

Caring for your Karl Donoghue piece

• Our knitwear collections are designed in London and hand crafted in Nepal using the highest quality yarns and trims to create a luxurious product that should last for many years if cared for well. We call this “Luxury for Life”.
• Avoid hanging cashmere garments. We recommend folding them to avoid mis-shaping of the knitwear and always away from UV light.
• To help reduce the risk of moths, we recommend placing moth repentant between or around the folded cashmere products to help protect from damage caused by moths. If you are unfortunate to find a small hole in your cashmere over time, you can repair/close using the small hank of matching yarn found in the care label pocket in the left side seam.
• Pilling is the tiny “fuzzballs” that appear on cashmere after being used, caused by friction. To remove these and renew the look of the cashmere, we recommend using a high-quality cashmere comb or an electric defuzzer.
• Hand washing will always be the preferable way of cleaning your cashmere products. How to hand wash:
  • Fill and sink or a tub with cold water and make sure your cashmere/wool detergent is mixed well. Then add your cashmere and soak for 30 minutes periodically agitating from time to time. Do not soak too long or overnight.
  • Remove your cashmere and refill with clean cool water. Add your cashmere to the clean water to remove excess detergent. Repeat if necessary.
  • Be very careful never to twist your cashmere when washing or drying, as you can risk breaking the delicate threads. Instead press excess water from your cashmere between your hands or roll inside an absorbent towel/cloth.
  • Gently pull the cashmere piece back into its original shape before air drying flat. Avoid heat sources like direct sunlight or radiators.

Following these guidelines and the information on the product care label will help you to maintain the natural beauty of your Karl Donoghue piece for many years to come, a far more sustainable approach to fashion.