Why Wool?

BEAUTIFUL NATURAL WOOL

What is wool?

Wool is a natural keratin fibre made by sheep, with a brand-new fleece grown every year. Sheep are sheared annually to remove their winter coats and keep them cool and comfortable in summer. Luckily for us, these warm fleeces can be spun into yarn and woven into cosy blankets and scarves.

Although people having been using wool since the Stone Age, scientists have yet to produce a fibre that matches the unique natural properties of wool. If they could, it would be hailed as a wonder of technology!

 


 

FROM FLEECE TO BLANKET

How are wool blankets made?

The fleece is washed with soap and water, then dyed. The dye may be a single colour or a ‘melange’ blended from different shades. Fibres are carded to smooth them in the same direction, then spun into yarn.

The weaving process starts with aligning up to 2,000 yarn threads onto a beam to make the warp. We use traditional looms that carry the weft threads through the warp, creating the pattern. Next the cloth is washed, brushed and fringed, before a final quality control check when it is cut and labelled, ready for its new home.


 

ORIGINS OF WOOL

Where does our wool come from?

 


 

WARM AND PRACTICAL

What are the benefits of wool?

Wool fabrics are highly breathable, thanks to the crimped structure of the fibres. Woven blankets trap pockets of air, keeping you warm. If you feel too hot, the material allows moisture to evaporate, helping you regulate a comfortable body temperature, especially at night.

Wool is long-lasting and practical, as it is naturally odour resistant and stays fresh longer than other materials. Your blanket can be at the heart of all your cosy activities at home, from snuggling on the sofa, to breakfast in bed and summer picnics.


 

TYPES OF WOOL

Wool or merino lambswool?

 


 

SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY

Why is wool good for the environment?

Synthetic fabrics are man-made plastics that start as petrochemicals and fossil fuels. By contrast, a sheep simply needs grass and drinking water to naturally grow their new fleece each year. Wool also has advantages over cotton, which takes lots of water and chemical fertilisers to produce.

At the end of its life, wool fabric can be recycled and re-spun back into yarn. Even if it does reach landfill, it biodegrades completely in 3-4 months and releases beneficial nutrients into the soil. Synthetic fabrics take decades to break down, creating microplastics that wash into rivers and oceans.