As the British weather becomes more predictably inclement, the nights draw in and the season “of mists and mellow fruitfulness” that poet John Keats honoured in his ode To Autumn takes hold, it’s time to reach for the woolly jumpers and hunker down. It’s a busy time of year for us as knitting peaks and heavier gauge yarns have their moment.
Whilst we are fans of knits for all seasons, there is definitely something special in the air as the leaves begin to turn, the pumpkins ripen, and ‘sweater weather’ memes resurface amongst friends and followers!
But October is also an important month in our calendar as a celebration of all things wool with further reaching benefits than the cosiness of a cardigan. October is The Campaign for Wool’s annual designated Wool Month. Launched in 2010 The Campaign for Wool is a global initiative to educate consumers about the benefits of wool and help to support and grow the wool industry.
His Majesty King Charles III has been the patron since the beginning, when he was The Prince of Wales, and it is largely due to his passion and commitment to sustainability that the campaign came into being and continues to gather strength. Though The Campaign for Wool is jointly funded by some of the world’s largest woolgrower organisations including British Wool, Cape Wools, New Zealand Campaign for Wool
and The Woolmark Company, it’s purpose is far reaching beyond our industry.
Wool is an increasingly important fibre in fashion, interiors and craft and will inevitably play a significant role in the move to more responsible manufacturing and consumption of all textiles.
Compared to synthetics, wool makes up just a faction of the world consumption of major textiles. In
fact, wool accounts for only around 1% of the world’s total fibre production.
And yet it is inherently natural, renewable and biodegradable with many benefits in everyday life – from the clothes that you wear, to the bedding you sleep on, to the insulation in your home.
According to the Woolmark company, it is estimated that the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles worth of microplastics enter waste water every year from washing synthetic garments. By contrast, 100% wool fabrics do not contribute to microplastic pollution, as wool not only biodegrades in soil, adding nutrients back to the earth, but it also biodegrades in the ocean and water and therefor leaves no impact on the planet.
By choosing wool, you’re supporting sheep farmers, reducing synthetics, and embracing a fibre
that biodegrades naturally.
Wool is also insulating, water repellent, UV and stain resistant, breathable, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic.
This Wool Month, The Campaign for Wool is asking consumers of all textiles to ‘Check It’s Wool’.
All of the yarns we spin in our West Yorkshire factory are made from 100% British wool, so you can be sure that when you choose to make something by hand you are choosing to craft with a responsible, biodegradable, natural and renewable resource.
But with our Wooltrace DK you can take this one step further.
Scan the QR code on each hank of Wooltrace DK to trace the yarn in your hands directly back to the farm(s) via our Farm Finder. Here you will find details of the farms including the location, farmer and sheep breeds.
Wooltrace is a yarn with a mission. Our trademark fully traceable yarn guarantees fair pay to sheep farmers and fosters positive environmental and social change. Spun and dyed by us, this superior quality wool is made with passion and purpose in every fibre.
Fully transparent yarn from farm to finished garment.
A woolly jumper is for life, not just for Wool Month!
Discover Wooltrace DK here.
