Have you read the post on ‘Where your woolly jumper started’? If not, I suggest you check it out first. Read it? Good. Read on...
You may be wondering how best to purchase a wool jumper or even care for the ones you already own. This post is here to help with answering a couple of those questions – such as: what is best to buy, how best to care for the jumper, and who is making a change?
Understanding wool
Most sheep breeds produce different wool types that differ in texture or weight. A medium weight wool creates lightweight fleeces, e.g. socks, jumpers, or blankets.
Lightweight wools utilise small fibres making them more versatile and less itchy (this makes it a more valuable wool). Most of our wool is from a breed of sheep called the Merino. Therefore, a solution to lessen the impact of this mono-culture could be to buy wools and wool products sheered from different breeds and animals. There are lots of animal wools that can still provide you with a snuggly jumper. Such wool types include, lamb’s wool (from the sheep’s first sheer), mohair (from an angora goat, with a frizzy coat), or alpaca wool. Buying wools from different sources can promote livestock diversity and can benefit a wider population of farming communities rather than just a few large merino farms.
Merino wool is still highly popular, and for good reason; it is the least itchy and lightweight while keeping you extra warm. If you do want to consider merino wool, just make sure it has been certified by a trusting company. It would be best to understand what type of wool you would be looking for in a jumper before making a purchase. Things to consider when making a wool purchase:
· Do you want a light or heavy-weight jumper?
· How itchy do you want it?
· Do you want a chunkier knit pattern?
What should I buy?
So now you know a little more about wool types, you might be wondering how best to purchase a jumper. Personally, I believe it is best to buy as locally as possible – so if you’re living in the UK, try to find a jumper that has been produced and manufactured in the UK with a British stamp. This is an important consideration, however, if traceability is provided by the company or the jumper has been certified then this will also be a good choice. To make sure a jumper has traceability or a certification, there should be clear information provided on the company’s website, social media platforms, or on their products. The symbol below indicates what to look out for. Click here to be redirected to the wool mark certification website to find out more about certified wool.
How do you care for a jumper?
To get the most out of your jumper, it is crucial to care for it properly. The wool still carries natural oils which means that the jumper will not need to be washed constantly – if you air it out after you’ve worn it – the jumper will clean itself. If the jumper is beyond self-cleaning, or needs a spa day, the wool setting at 40°C on your washing machine is just fine. Alternatively, the jumper can be hand washed with gentle soap and lukewarm water in the sink. Make sure the jumper is stored away neatly by folding it in a draw or hanging it in the wardrobe on a soft hanger to make sure it doesn’t lose its shape. To take extra precautions with storing your jumper, you could consider purchasing moth resistant tags to keep away any cheeky critters wandering in for a snack. Taking these few easy steps towards caring for your jumper should extend its lifespan. The jumper should last a long time anyway due to the nature of the fibres making woolly jumpers staple pieces for any wardrobe.
Who is already making a change?
It is difficult to know what brands to trust when making a thoughtful fashion purchase. Through my research, I found two brands that provide good quality wool products in a more ethical way.
Sheep Inc. is a brand exclusively focused on selling wool jumpers. They provide 100% traceability with information that can be found through a tag on the jumper. The information given even allows you to know which sheep contributed to making your jumper and their current whereabouts. How cute is that!
The second brand that I found was Wool and the gang. They put together kits that allow you to sew your own woolly clothing item from easy to follow instructions. This act of being able to make your own clothes creates a deeper investment and attachment for the items you wear, resulting in a piece you can be proud of for years to come. By having fewer, quality garments in your wardrobe, you cut down on so much of the earth’s resources. On top of this, all of their wools are ethically sourced, showing that the brand doesn’t cut corners when it comes to sustainability.
If you would like to further your knowledge, click on the links below to read on.
These links are the ones used to build this blog post and the information was correct at the date of publishing.
コメント