UK’s Annual Wool Week

October 15, 2013

Celebrate Wool Week With the Best Sheepskin Garments and Footwear

October 14 marks the beginning of the UK’s annual Wool Week event – a week-long national celebration of all things wool – and we thought this would be a great time to talk about the many benefits of a particular type of wool product – sheepskin. In the UK, Wool Week is hosted by The Campaign for Wool, a global endeavor initiated by the Prince of Wales in an effort to raise awareness about the unique, natural, sustainable benefits of wool garments and products. Here at The Sheepherder, we offer a variety of beautiful, durable sheepskin garments, footwear and accessories custom-made using genuine shearling hides, which feature smooth suede or leather on one side and soft, silky wool on the other.

The Campaign for Wool encourages collaboration between wool growers, fashion designers, manufacturers and retailers like The Sheepherder around the world, in order to help consumers see wool for what it really is: a beautiful, versatile product that is both renewable and biodegradable. According to the Campaign for Wool’s website, “Wool is a protein fibre formed in the skin of sheep, and is thus one hundred percent natural, not man-made. Since the Stone Age, it has been appreciated as one of the most effective forms of all-weather protection known to man, and science is yet to produce a fibre which matches its unique properties.”

At the end of its life, authentic wool is easily decomposed, whereas most synthetics degrade very slowly, and, because sheep produce a new fleece every year, wool is also considered to be renewable. In addition to these beneficial properties, wool is also a natural insulator, it is breathable, elastic and resilient, it is easily cared for and odor-resistant, and it is even appropriate for year-round wear, since wool constantly reacts to changes in body temperature and can maintain the wearer’s comfort in both warm and cold weather. It is for these reasons that the Prince of Wales launched The Campaign for Wool and continues to promote the use of wool both in garments and in the home.

Since 2010, the Campaign for Wool and its annual Wool Week initiative have helped bring about a renewed demand for wool around the world, and have seen a three-fold increase in the price farmers receive for their wool. This, in turn, helps wool manufacturers and retailers like us bring you the highest-quality sheepskin slippers, shearing jackets and more, for a price that will have you ordering something for the whole family. Check out our shearling garments, home goods and accessories, and celebrate Wool Week with a custom, hand-crafted sheepskin product today!