Frequently Asked Questions

What makes wool so special? 

Environmentally Sustainable - Wool is a natural, sustainable resource.  The processing of wool requires very little environmental impact compared to other natural fibres or man-made fibre.

Hypoallergenic - Dust mites don't like wool. Dust mites are the major cause of allergy and asthma suffering.

Fire Resistant - When subjected to flames, wool most likely just smoulders and extinguishes itself.

Regulates Temperature - Wool  keeps you warm when you’re cold, and cool when you’re hot. Wool fabrics reduce the rate of heat transfer to the environment because they offer superior insulation to most textiles.

Does Not Itch - The fibre of Merino wool are so fine that they do not itch. A human hair is five times larger in diameter than Merino wool fibre.

Water Repellent - While the core of wool fibre is capable of absorbing up to a third of its dry weight in moisture, the surface wool has a waxy coating of lanolin that repels liquids.

Ultra-light Insulator - Wool is an excellent insulator and has one of the highest insulation to weight ratios of any natural or man-made fibre.

Long Lasting - Wool can be bent 20,000 times before breaking. By comparison, a cotton fibre will break after 3,000 times and silk after just 2,000. This means garments not only last longer, but also retain their appearance for a longer period.

Colourfast - Wool holds dyes better than many other natural fibres. Wool also is available in a variety of natural earth tones that require no added dyes.

Mildew Resistant - Wool fibres have a natural water wicking property that prevents moisture from being retained in the fabric. Besides keeping the skin dry, this quality also naturally inhibits mildew. Wool also has natural anti-microbial properties because bacteria tend to be attracted to smooth positively charged surfaces like those of synthetic fibres rather than the scaly, neutrally charged surface of the Merino fibre. Hospital studies have shown that bacterial colonies are common in cotton sheets while not present on wool blankets subjected to the same environmental conditions.

Diminishes Body Odour - Most synthetic fibres actually increase body odour because they create a breeding ground for bacteria. Sweat itself has no odour, but over time bacteria develop and create unpleasant odours.  Wool reduces the opportunity for odours to develop because it quickly absorbs sweat and evaporates it into the air. Unlike synthetic fabrics, wool does not retain odours and will freshen just from airing out. In addition, the outer layer of wool fibres have a high concentration of fatty acids, which have anti-bacterial properties. The internal layers of wool fibre actually bind with acidic, basic and sulphurous odours that are components of body odour.

Insulates When Wet - The inner core of wool fibres can absorb 35% of its own weight in moisture. Not until wool is saturated with 60% of its own weight will it feel wet to the touch. Because of this, even wool is moderately damp, the insulating air pockets are still intact. Furthermore, the wicking properties of wool fibres draw moisture away from the skin helping to keep the body warm.

Stain Resistant -The thin waxy coating on wool fibres makes wool water resistant. This allows time for liquid spills to be wiped from fabric which still contains some lanolin before they can cause permanent staining. Even if they are not wiped before drying, wool is less prone to stain than many other fabrics. Wool also has a very low degree of dry-soil pick-up compared to most other fibres. One method for cleaning wool clothing is to simply brush the fabric. This is effective because of wools ability to easily release soil.


Defra - Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Kent Down and Marshes Leader Leader Produced In Kent
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the EU. The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): Europe investing in rural areas