The Campaign for Wool…

This green sheep drawing is the logo of the “The Campaign for Wool” which was launched in 2010 in an effort to make wool fashionable again.

Prince Charles is the Patron of The Campaign of Wool.  Wool once a mainstay of the United Kingdom economy (the world actually), has fallen out of fashion over recent decades due to the invention of man-made fibres.  The Prince has been instrumental in working with both fashion and interior designers to bring a new awareness to the benefits of wool.

No doubt many of you will have a love/hate opinion of Prince Charles based on the Netflix series, “The Crown”. The jury is out for me; however, I do have a soft spot for him and his environmental endeavours regarding climate change, his passion for gardening and his desire to prop up the economies of rural communities.

This felted wool bust of Prince Charles was made of Canadian wool by Canadian artist, Rosemarie Peloquin (photo above).

Wool is a naturally renewable and biodegradable fibre which ultimately helps to preserve both land and sea by taking a very short time to break down in soil or water.

Wool absorbs moisture and releases it later.  At one time, CC on Whyte sold wool mattress pads that were effective in wicking away perspiration along with the added benefit of combating dust mites while providing a layer of softness that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter.  I enjoy this “sleeping on a cloud” experience every night!

Firefighters agree that wool used in carpet or upholstered furnishings are more fire retardant than man-made fibres by having a low flame spread while emitting less noxious fumes.  The medical community has also weighed in on the benefits of wool, believing that wool is not an allergen and can be therapeutic for people with eczema despite many people finding wool prickly when worn against the skin.

Because of its durability, wool is also more cost-effective over time.  As consumers,  it may be time to consider all the benefits of wool when making future purchases.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Campaign for Wool, Amy Powney, of Mother of Pearl, was commissioned to design a limited edition unisex wool scarf, made of a blend of wool fibres from the Commonwealth countries of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The scarf is available in three colourways based on the Prince of Wales check pattern.  The profits from the scarf will go to The Prince’s Foundation’s Future Textiles initiative.

This little big sheep, a gift from my sister, hangs proudly on my Christmas tree.   It represents an inside joke that we share about me being the black sheep in my family as I am so unlike my siblings!

xox Judy