Wool is considered to be our oldest textile material and has been used to make clothes for 10,000 years.
Every year sheep produce a new fleece, making wool a natural, renewable fibre source. Wool has inherent natural biodegradable properties in the land and ocean, to benefit the planet which is choking from waste plastic, man-made and micro-fibres. Products made from synthetic fibres can take up to 40 years to degrade, while wool degrades in a fraction of that time.
Natural fibres biodegrade naturally in soils and aquatic systems, so they don’t accumulate in landfill and oceans. So, whilst wool will still shed fibres during washing, these fibres will break down naturally, without causing any harmful effects to the environment. And wool will also reduce waste to landfill as it decomposes in soil in a matter of months or years, slowly releasing valuable nutrients back into the earth. We can all make a difference by choosing wool to help safeguard the planet for future generations.
Photo: Clare Johns Pembrokeshire flock (www.clarejohnslabel.com)
It’s no secret then that wool is a fabric that offers a whole host of benefits but what is it about that makes it so special? And why is wool better than alternative fibres?
Comfort
If you want to achieve a perfect sleep, look no further than wool. With its health benefits and its luxurious, enhanced comfort, wool has been proven to improve your sleep because when you cocoon yourself in wool, you’re guaranteed a healthier, happier sleep, leaving you feeling fully rested and refreshed each morning.
Cool when hot, and warm when not
Comfort isn't the only element of wool which sets it apart from other types of fabrics - it's also a natural insulator. This means you’ll be kept warm in winter, and cooler in the summer – thanks to its temperature regulating capabilities and its naturally breathable fibres. Wool fibre helps to keep your body at the optimal temperature zone for the right level of comfort and rest.
Hypoallergenic
If you’re looking for anti-allergy option you can’t go wrong with wool, as it’s naturally hypoallergenic. Although some people do have a rare natural allergy to Lanolin- the oil found in wool - most people's allergy to wool is a reaction to the many harsh and toxic chemicals that go into the treatment and finishing of conventional wool products.
Moisture Resistance
Another virtue of wool is that it has a water repellent effect. In other words, you can brush light raindrops off your sweater before the water gets the time to soak into the wool. The fabric is also considerably stain-resistant, and as such has a natural resistance to mildews and moulds from the way it repels moisture, and lets moisture pass through its fibres without trapping it
Clean
Wool is naturally dirt resistant, needing less washing than other textiles. This makes it easy to clean, because any dirt or dust will sit on the surface of the fibre. The outside surface of the wool fibre consists of a series of overlapping fibres, similar to the feathers on a bird, making it easy to brush off and for stains to lift out, it's also odour-repellent which means even after multiple uses, it will still feel clean and fresh.
Durable
Wool fibres resist tearing and can bend back on themselves multiple times without breaking. Wool has got a natural stretch; it doesn’t need ironing and its super durable. In other words, wool products last a long time without showing much sign of wear and tear.
All our Welsh Otter blankets and accessories are woven using 100% wool sourced from across the UK. Not only is this sustainable, renewable and hardwearing, but wool is also luxurious and the perfect fabric to cwtch up in, as our ancestors have done for centuries. Shop our collection - here
Buy less - choose well
