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 Talk about a funky cushion! Take a look at these wonderful tapestries from Emily Peacock! With these she creates fun cushions which add that special touch to your living space. Obviously it takes our fabulous fibre WOOL to be this creative and funky! What’s more you can create it yourself! "Emily Peacock's aim is to offer designs that break with tradition - designs that would look equally at home in a country cottage or a modern loft conversion, designs that are attractive, original and eye-catching." The large kit is worked with Appleton Brothers tapestry wools in counted cross stitch on Zweigart 7 h.p.i. canvas. The small kit is worked with 2 strands of Appleton Brothers crewel wool in counted cross stitch on Zweigart 10 h.p.i. canvas. The design is worked from the easy-to-follow colour chart provided. Working with tapestry wools on the larger 7 h.p.i. canvas (large size) gives a beautiful chunky, hand-made finish. The crewel wools worked on the 10 h.p.i. (small size) give an elegant, smoother finish. See Emily's website for further info on her fabulous work at www.emilypeacock.com
Unfortunately we only recently came across this fabulous limited edition from Clarks Wallabee. It is still worth mentioning and again show wool's versatility! Have a look at the fabulous wool inserts combined with the classis Clark leather shoe. There is no question about it - wool brings style! Write to Clarks at http://www.clarksoriginals.com/emailus.php and let's see if we can reinstate the 'woolabee'!
17 July 2009 Have a look at Aurelie Mathigot`s knitted sculptures. “Her work is inspired by the notion of recovery and necessity of talking about everyday life in another new way”. She uses wool to express herself artistically covering various everyday objects with yarn and intends through this to express the need for isolation and a hiding from reality. Through the covering of objects she expresses a desire to capture a moment and to fix reality – she captures an object through the yarn structure around it not allowing it to leave us. Please see more of her work at www.aureliemathigot.com
29 June 2009
Pulse is an international trade fair, which has just taken place in London (31/05-2/06) and as they themselves put it : “the fair, organised by Clarion Retail, has earned an established place in the retail community for being the place to discover brand new suppliers, ideas and talent that simply cannot be seen elsewhere.” www.pulse-london.com One of the designers exhibiting there was Ryan Frank, a talented South African designer living in London. His fabulous stacking 'Isabella' stool is based on traditional hand-carved African stools, but is made of eco-friendly strawboard, and covered in multiculoured wool felt. Being eco-friendly with little negative impact on the environment, meant that he won the Most Sustainable Product award at the 2008/9 Hidden Art annual award, and also got an Honorable Mention in Green Dot 2008. Have a look at his website for more on this innovative designer, at www.ryanfrank.net. 12 June 2009
We have written about Chrisitien Meindertsma (1980) before but I recently revisited her website and found it so charming that I have to mention it again! In it she explains her desire to express the need for traceability and the importance of the raw materials she uses. If you don’t know her, she lives and works in Rotterdam and together with a knitter, a graphic designer, spinners, farmers and felters from all over the world makes the products for FLOCKS, a knitwear brand in the broadest sense of the word.
5 June 2009
“Monsters in Mittens” is a wonderful collection of hand-knitted vintage-inspired pieces made with pure New Zealand Merino wool. The collection came about when two young ladies Tracy Duncan and Emma Algie had problems finding good quality knitwear for their babies. They are influenced by the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and hope to create pieces that are full of character while still being comfortable and practical. Knitters all around the world knit their pieces and their merino wool is sourced from New Zealand woolgrowers. "Understanding how precious baby’s first year is, we created a range that keeps baby deliciously cosy in winter, cool in the summer and breathes with the skin. Pure Merino absorbs excess moisture and keeps our precious babies’ skin dry and rash free." Please visit their website at www.monstersinmittens.com to see more product and information on how and where to buy their beautiful range.
29 May 2009
Ellen Seegers and Arno Tummers are two designers with an exciting new project called the Woollight collection. These lamps are not only perfect in design, they are also environmentally friendly being made of used wool blankets, in turn a sustainable natural wool resource. The wool material has been subjected to a transparent treatment which holds the lampshade firm, and in shape. These fabulous lampshades are available at: www.beeldenbouwers.nl . Have a look for other interesting products too! 19 May 2009 A current exhibition on at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in Manhattan, is “Design for a Living World” and incorporates a series of designers commissioned to “develop new uses for sustainably grown and harvested materials in order to tell a unique story about the life-cycle of materials and the power of conservation and design”.
12 May 2009 These beautiful rugs designed by Michelle Weinberg are handmade in Nepal. Not only does her work create an exciting decorative environment, it also (through her subject matter and material use) makes us aware of the world and environment around us. By using natural fibres such as wool and silk she proves once again, that going natural in no way means having to compromise on design. “She responds to Nature and the built environment with a vocabulary that merges the modern and the folkloric. Pattern provides the vital pulse that animates her imagery, along with vivid colour relationships, abstracted typographic forms, and a retro sensibility that permeates her works”. As we become more aware of the world around us we should realise that we can make an impact on our surroundings through the decisions we make as consumers. Buying wool is one small way we can make a difference because by doing so, we are in a small way protecting our environment. Think about it!
5 May 2009
If you are looking for an eco-friendly solution to seating then you can be relieved because the “RELIEF CHAIR” is your answer. “The Relief Chair remasters the art of sculpting, using digital fabrication and solid, renewable materials. Materials commonly associated with seating - upholstery, foam products and toxic finishes - are all supplanted with thick sheets of natural wool felt, adhered with non-toxic, water-based adhesives”. Once again we see how wool creeps into the design world proudly pronouncing itself as eco-friendly and enduring the test of time. 30th April 2009 A design by Gordan Guillaumier belonging to the Fluxus range by MINOTTI . "Fluxus means "to flow" in Latin and for Minotti means a new range of rugs, available in several sizes. The "wave" effect, produced by matching the matt reflections of New Zealand pure virgin wool with the bright, changing reflections of viscose, results in a remarkable impact and refined elegance, thus enhancing the items of the One World 2008 collection. Available colours: ecru, blue and grey." For further information please go to www.minotti.it
27th April 2009 A design by Patricia Urquiola launched at the " Salone Internazionale del Mobile" in Milan this week. It was designed by this Spanish designer for Morosco and is called Fergana. The fabrics are of wool and are traditional fabrics from Uzbekistan. For more information please visit www.Morosco.it
22nd April 2009 April is the month hosting the world famous international furniture fair in Milan – Salone del Mobile 2009. If you are ever in the area you really should try and go because if nothing else, it fills you with inspiration and consequently the desire to create something of your own. This year it was from 22-27 April and its venue is the Milan Rho Fairgrounds. Although the event really gives a fabulous opportunity to see so many different inspirational designs on one spot, it always amazes me how very little we, the wool industry, use it to promote our "perfect fibre"– to me it is the perfect occasion to show just what it is that makes wool so different from other fibres. I was however relieved when I came across the following product designs presented for the first time at this year’s show. The first is… The Pudelskern Space Agency presented "objects of pure and natural wool to the watching world". As they say themselves " their presentation at Salone Satellite "explored" possibilities of sustainable development through design. For Pudelskern "design is not only about form, colours and style." The whole process of production is explored, twisted and taken apart to bring forth new objects. "Intervention at different stages of the process refined existing products and new products were developed from half-finished materials" All the products in this year's collection have one thing in common – wool from sheep bred on green alpine pastures in remote valleys of the Tyrol. The design team analyzed the processing of the material from shearing the sheep to the manufacturing of traditional rugs. The collection includes lamps, lounge chairs, a table and two rugs. To learn more about Pudelskern, please visit http://www.pudelskern.at. 17 April "IAMHUMAN" So I Use Wool!
"iamhuman" is a small very innovative design company in Seattle offering a range of Lap Top covers that can be tailored to fit your specific model and size. The concept behind creating the product range came with the realization that nowadays our computers and specifically laptops are so much part of our lives and a vital instrument used for storing and expressing our ideas, that we should beable to express this on their exterior. One of the most striking covers according to "Thewoolroom" is the Paul Smith Design made out of 100% wool. Obviously made from a quality wool fabric and 3M adhesive you can remove it whenever you’re ready for a change. Not only is the handle fabulous, but this wool cover will also ensure for good wear and tear - once again proving wool’s functionality while still being fabulously pleasing to the eye. These covers are available online at www.iamhumannow.com
7 April 2009 I bet none of you were aware of wool of Icelandic origin. Well, it does exist and is fabulous for all the right reasons. We were so thrilled to discover a couple from Iceland Gudrun Asdis and Tjorvi that are as passionate about wool as we are. They design their own yarn and sell it through www.theicelandicwool.etsy.com – so please have a look. On the site the couple sums up this wonderful wool’s characteristics: • Inner fibres: Fine, soft, highly insulating. Together, these two distinctive fibres create a wool that is: 1)Lightweight: Lighter than most other wools, keeps you warm and comfortable. Their collection comprises various yarns, suitable for various end-uses. They explain these themselves below: - Lightwool: The most popular wool in Iceland. It produces garments that are comfortable to wear indoors or outdoors. All the Icelandic wool felts very well. You can also read more about felting in woolipedia.com
5 April 2009 Thanks to http://fonetik.wordpress.com/, we discovered a fantastic graphic designer and as she describes herself " with a passion for illustration and crafts", it made us very proud to discover then that to express this passion, she uses wool. Please see below a glorious example of how wool can be exciting, colourful and make a very strong fashion statement all at once! Please have a look at her work at www.kjoosupplies.etsy.com.
3 April 2009 Whilst blogging along, we came across these beautiful bowls by designer Camill Halyorsen (www.camillahounsellhalvorsen.com), an interior architect and designer educated in Oslo at the National Academy of the Arts. She has exhibited at: Fiera Milano 2008,
Not only is the design intriguing but the yarn used to make this exquisite design has a story of its own. The alpaca yarn used is Mirasol Yarn and each ball of yarn purchased helps support the Mirasol Project.. Aren’t these Lullaboos just so eye-catching? Of course they are because they are made of wool!! What else?. They are designed by Margaret Wyngaard, and made out of wool and cashmere blends. The whole story behind this little toy makes them even more precious. Margaret set up the company to make and sell the dolls after seeing the success of the first prototypes with their children at helping them to nod off to sleep. The product range has since grown, with local artists helping to sew them and their products are now available onlline. Please visit their site at www.lullaboos.com to find out where and to read their fabulous story.
9 March 2009
March 2009 www.llotllov.de is a fabulous website we discovered on one of our millions of trips through the web. Isn’t amazing how, when you think you have discovered something unique and one of kind, it suddenly seems to pop up everywhere. You can imagine our delight when we discovered these fun wool covered light features. Not only is the raw material, as we know environmentally friendly and sustainable, but also through the use of environmentally friendly energy saving bulbs, there is no heat emission. Designers for the German design studio are Ania Bauer, Jacob Brinck, Lena Hirche and Ramon Toshiro Merker. The website features a whole range of innovative design and inspiring installations. They exhibit at various fairs and last, but not least of all, at the Koeln Furniture Fair held from the 18-25 January.
26 February 2009
It is always so difficult to interpret any sort of clear message when it comes to predictions made by the so called “Trend setters” for a coming season be it in fabrics, fashion or yarn. It always seems to me as though everything goes. This year's 13th Edition of the SpinExpo in Shanghai from 24-26 February was no exception. The trend seemed to allow for everything. The themes were divided into four different areas, “Dancing”, “Climbing”, “Flying” and “Riding”. The first of the themes incorporated a range of pastel colours from hues of pinks, yellows and violet. A very much feminine orientated theme, fabrics here have a fragile aspect yet composed of rather robust yarns. Interwoven structures with web - like effects look at mesh in architecture”. Very predominant in this theme the lace theme created through the interweaving of varying yarns. The second theme “Climbing” showed a rather rich colour palette appropriate also for menswear. “Volumes previously not associated with sweaters” are found here. “Padding, knotting in yarns with no weight offer new directions for Spring” according to Curruthers Associates. Thirdly “Flying” is the boldest of the four in terms of colour with strong hues that contrast each other. “Stripes and spots feature strongly in this group creating lively, vibrant knitwear. The fourth and last theme "Riding” reflects the ”American Cowboy” and incorporates “indigo dyed cotton and mixes happily with bronze metallic yarns”. This theme is particularly supposed to influence menswear. The trends for the next Spring season seem so far from minimalist conservative ideas. Does this mean people are being more optimistic despite the current economic climate world-wide? For more information on trends see www.spinexpo.com 20 February 2009
Image Source : www.grouplotus.com What does wool have to do with cars? Apparently quite a lot. With the move of almost all industries towards taking responsibility for their actions and production ethics, it is no wonder that the British Sports car manufacturer LOTUS "has put a new twist on green motoring with a two seater made from eco-friendly materials". Whilst the exterior panels are made from hemp, the interior cloth is made from 100% wool. The stereo and air-conditioning is run by electricity generated through solar panels installed on the roof. The body is coated in a newly developed water-based paint which is not only more eco-friendly, it's also cheaper to produce. The manufacturer has sourced all its materials from local suppliers thus decreasing Co2 emission which would otherwise be created through long distance transport. Lotus plans to become Britains’ greenest car manufacturer. The Eco Elise, which is based on the standard Elise sports car costing £24,000, is part of a company-wide drive by Lotus to green up its image: "It came from a staff initiative to improve our environmental credentials," said Alastair Florance at Lotus. 17 February 2009
One of the most important thoughts on a mother’s mind is the safety and well-being of her child. This is no doubt influenced on a daily basis by the surroundings a child may find itself in and the activities it may undertake. Playing is an important part of a child’s life since this teaches it skills it may need later on in life. We have heard over and over again how the influx of huge quantities of toys from all parts of the world has lead to the neglect of the quality thereof. We are all aware of how often norms are not adhered to or just overlooked to cut costs. Little do we know how much this “cutting of costs” can and does affect our health through toxic emission levels that are not within an acceptable level. It is with this in mind that the terms sustainability and eco-friendly come to mind once again. Thinking especially about children and their playing environment, we were thrilled to discover that some toy manufacturers are thinking along these lines. Wonderful examples can be found at www.zanisa.com. As they say on their website, they are, “…celebrating the hand-made process, the nurturing of our environment and the people behind it all”. It was no coincidence then to find products made of pure wool.
Image Source : www.gyer.co.uk Once again we have come across the perfect way to beautify your home in a way no other fibre can. These wool carpets made from pure New Zealand wool, are created by Rebecca von Gyer for her own company GYER. There are numerous options for sizing but what makes an interesting accessory is her runner format in vibrant colour ways. She creates the perfect lush under-foot sensation while creating an artwork that is natural and harmless to its environment. This is a product you could own for many years to come since wool ensures for enduring quality! Have a look at her complete range at http://www.gyer.co.uk/home.htm. 1 February 2009
Image source: http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com Why is it that when people hear the word wool they more often than not think “uncomfortable”, "scratchy" and old-fashioned? However, again and again converted wool users are amazed at what wool can do by simply being what it is - the perfect fibre! Foot odour and sweaty uncomfortable feet are a common but seldom admitted problem for a large part of any population. It can be highly embarrassing but can also be so easily resolved by wearing wool on your feet. With its ability to absorb moisture and its allowance for breathability, wool socks are the solution to your problems. Not only do they keep you warm in winter they are also the perfect regulator for the hot summer days when trainers or closed shoes need to be worn. Wool will reduce sweating and thus eliminate odour! Try wool and you will not only experience pure comfort, you will no longer have to dread moments of removing your shoes in public! A perfect example are J. Crew's fabulous wool knee-highs from last September that are highly fashionable while still being functional. 26 January 2009 Although today’s blog does not have directly to do with wool, it does relate to it and incorporate it indirectly. It is all about observing the world's changing philosophy on living “the better life” by living from and constructing on the basis of renewable resources. Wool is one of these resources. A perfect example of how the world is realising its responsibility when it comes to environmental issues, is seen in the form of the newly constructed eco-city of DONGTAN, which will be opened in the occasion of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. The city is one of four eco-cities to be built in China by Arup Dongtan and will be “ecologically friendly, with zero greenhouse-emission transit and self-sufficient water and energy systems”. The concept foresees an environment free of cars and all of the city’s energy will be generated from renewable resources with “zero emissions produced by the city's vehicles”. Furthermore all wastes will be reused and organic waste composted or used for further energy. By 2010 the city will be ready to welcome a population of 20000. Again and again we hear how we are responsible for creating what is to be for those that come after us. Design and architecture are fields where major decisions are being made to ensure for decreased negative impact on the environment be it interior or exterior design. The resources used are a vital part of the concept and we believe that wool can be incorporated in endless ways. More about this in a later blog. Source: http://www.thecoolhunter.net/eco-world/ 23 January 2009 "....I want to sing to the rooftops.....! ....find out why >>> 13 January 2009
Image: http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/ With a whole new year ahead of you and most probably a new set of resolutions to fulfil, we certainly hope you have taken into consideration your health. A vital (and not to be taken for granted for) aspect of living the healthy life is influenced by the way you sleep. We believe strongly that we can make a difference to your sleeping experience! Not surprisingly then, that it includes wool! Sleeping with a wool duvet is the perfect choice when deciding on how to spend 8 hours per day of your life! Here’s why: • Choosing wool means you are surrounding yourself with a natural fibre as apposed to a synthetically produced one, ensuring for an environment that is toxin free and completely sustainable! • Wool has the amazing ability, purely through its natural characteristics, to create the perfect micro-climate for the body. This means it adapts itself to the body it is covering - keeping it not too cold and not to warm. It does this by allowing for breathability while insulating. Other fibres (see our Woolipedia section) insulate only and often cause an environment that is too warm and suffocating. • Wool will not allow for “clamminess” during sleep – it can absorb 30% of its own weight before feeling moist. So you can understand then how it manages to keep the environment you are sleeping in dry without making any compromises when it comes to warmth and comfort by absorbing any moisture away from the body. We know and speak from own experience (all our colleagues sleep on and with wool) when we say wool allows for better sleep. We hope you will give it a try! Feel free to contact us for any further queries or need for information. WOOL IS WONDERFUL. 12 December 2008
Bookhou has again confirmed that the demand for creating a natural environment even inside the home is ever-present. It is no surpirse then to find wool incorporated into their designs being the natural, sustainable fibre it is. John Booth and Arounna Khounnoraj confounded Bookhou in 2003 to showcase their individual and collaborative works emphasizing handmade natural materials and small production pieces. 11 December 2008
BDDW is a small American furniture company “dedicated to the creation of well crafted timeless designs." They are based in Williamsburg Brooklyn and were founded by Tyler Hays, a painter and sculptor and now head designer of the company. Amongst their beautiful collection of handmade products, is a small range of wool carpets that without a doubt prove that wool (when interpreted in the right way) can add that perfect modern touch to your living space. Wool is the perfect fibre for functional, longlasting carpets. Follow our Woolipedia section to find out why and to read more fact on why wool is marvellous. 9/12/08
Doesn’t this just make you smile? These decorations are a fun way to add that special touch to your Christmas tree. Kitson is selling these online at Cath Kidston. They are “Your very own little flock of mischievous wool sheep complete with the requisite black sheep of the family! Set of 5 Christmas decorations with hanging loops; four white, one black.” Wreath With Wool!
Since Christmas is just around the corner and most people start decorationg around this time, we thought is would be a great opportunity to show how well wool lends itself to Christmas decorating. On one of our journeys through various blogs we came across bell dia blogspot. Today’s post shows how to make a fantastic wreath out of recylced wool. Have a look and be inspired by wool – yet again! SPECIAL OFFER ON ALL OUR CUSHIONS! Don’t lose your chance in receiving a 20% discount on all our beautiful cushions! Go to http://www.thewoolroom.com/prods/pc16.html to see our gorgeous range!
4 December 2008
Irene Hoofs has a fantastic blog called www.bloesem.blogs.com.‚ It is a source of great inspiration. You can imagine how thrilled we were to discover that she has her own online shop at http://bkids.bigcartel.com/products where she sells some exquisite baby booties made from pure Merino wool and Merino blends. They are the perfect gift and perfectly natural! What’s more is that they come in a 100% silk adorable little pouch. Please go and have a look! 3 December 2008 Being environmentally aware should come “naturally” to everyone nowadays. Our surroundings and the state they are in influence us on a day-to-day basis even through the simplest of actions. The decisions we make on what to wear, eat, how to act and what lifestyle to live on a whole will does have a significant impact on out environment. It is clear that we can’t make the world a better place from one day to the next but we can make a difference by improving through better practice in whatever area it may be. In the textile field, choosing natural resources as a basis is a good way to start. www.ecotextile.com is a fabulous site dedicated to informing the whole textile supply chain on the latest on sustainability issues.
“The editor of Ecotextile News is John Mowbray, who is the former editor of the market leading and widely respected Knitting International and KnitAmericas magazines. John has also edited and worked on several innovative projects such as the ITMA daily and the ITMA Asia daily textile newspapers. He also launched, edited, and wrote the Easy Care Wool directory in conjunction with The Woolmark Company.” 1 December 2008
This year is the 70th anniversary of the famous “flat cap” brand Kangol. The making of Basque berets by knitting and blocking started way back in 1938 in Cumbria, England. It was in 1954 that the iconic 504 model was born and continues to be in production since then. It is said that the name comes from Knit/Angora/Wool and that they were originally worn by the British Army in WW11. The number 504 is the number of the wooden block shape on which the cap is made. To commemorate the success of this model and the brand in general a numbered edition of 700 pieces with the authentic flock logo applique©, MADE FROM WOOL, are available this year. For further information, please see the website at www.388308.com. Once again wool promotes quality and style for all time! 28 November 2008
In our Woolipedia section, you will find a sub-heading “Arts and Crafts” that teaches all about the art of felting. We thought it would be a good idea to show a prime example of what it is you can produce should you ever really master the art. Papaver Vert means Green Poppy in Latin and French and is a label incorporating the most extraordinary felted objects. We discovered this brand via the housemartin blogspot http://housemartin.typepad.com as well as http://www.roseandradish.com and were excited to find that the items are available online at www.papernstitch.com/shop/papaver-vert and www.Etsy.com. The line includes a range of pillows and bowels. “Each pillow is hand made from scratch using the ancient and labor-intensive craftsmanship of hand felting wool from its semi-raw form. They are made from 100% merino wool, which makes them not only luxuriously soft but a renewable and eco-friendly material”. The felted bowls are first hand crocheted using a wool/mohair blend, then wet-felted through several wash cycles, dried around molds, trimmed and finally steam blocked. Anna has exhibited worldwide and her work is also represented in public collections including the ministry of Culture, Hungary, Foreign Affairs Canada, Library and Gallery in Cambridge, ON, the MSVU Art Gallery, Halifax NS, the New Brunswick Art Bank, the Arkansas Art Centre, Little Rock, AK and the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC. To see her work please visit www.annatorma.com. 24 November 2008 Izzy Lane is a UK based designer with a cause. Not only does she produce a stunning knitwear collection with a touch of romanticism, she also takes her stand when it comes to sustainability issues. With her own flock of British sheep, “Izzy Lane hopes to demonstrate an economic model whereby sheep can exist, be valued and have a place in our world without becoming meat”. Her knitwear is made with “the lustrous, kemp-free fleece of the Wensleydale sheep, an endangered breed, numbering around 1800 in the world”. Her dresses , skirts and jackets on the other hand are made from super-fine fleece from the rare Shetland breed. Have a look at her website at www.izzylane.com where products can also be bought online. This is a perfect example of sustainability in all its forms, ensuring for the survival of local production chains from sheep to shop! 20 November 2008 Wool used in interiors in combination with the perfect design can just be so classy. We just had to mention this beautiful design for the sake of one of our collegues who fell in love with it when we first found it during one of our sourcing sessions. It is truely endearing through its childlike charm. It is an expression of designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien (www.doshilevien.com) who designed it for and Italian lable Morosso: My Beautiful Backside and Princess. They used a wool fabric by Giulio Ridolfo for Kvadrat and combined it with wool felt to give it just the right feel. With the help of yet another fabuolous blog (Lovely Textiles -http://lovelytextiles.blogspot.com/2008/03/sandra-backlund.html), we came across a beautiful designer that expresses through her work exactly what it is that we feel about wool – it is flexible, fashionable and functional. Long gone are the days when all wool did was remind us of the jumpers our grandmothers knitted for us. They scratched! Yet, wool can be so soft and comfortable when processed in the right way to produce a various range of finished products. Fine wools are soft even without the help of any artifical finish and through their mere nature are perfect for creating wearable garmets that are a friend to the skin. (See our WOOLIPEDIA for more about why wool is wonderful). The designer we are talking about is Sandra Backland (www.sandrabackland.com) based in Stockholm, Sweden. She is young and innovative and through her work is able to stimulate thought and provoke reaction. Combining the natural essence of what wool is with exquisite fashion design is exactly what we need to promote a natural, modern yet funky image for wool. This way, it not only is a material in its own right used to create, rather it represents a lifestyle that is naturally healthy and modern. ....moving slowly but decisively through the web, searching for all things wool, we were reminded of how versatile wool can be. Wool is such a flexible fibre and today, perhaps more than before (in a world where the environment has become the social responsibility of each individual) its fabulous characteristics are being widely appreciated particularly in interiors. Not only is it compatible with environmental issues, it allows for sophistication in design without having to make any compromises at all! It was via one of our favourite blogs (the style files) that we discovered “Made by Eight” (http://www.madebyeight.nl), a group of 8 young designers exhibiting at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. These young designers are Robert Jan Snoeks, Liane Gaemers, Nienke Hansen, Shanna Deurloo, Stina Feldt, Marlous de Roode, Wendy Klaver en Anne ten Donkelaar. In particular I was moved by Wendy Klaver’s work not coincidentally because she works with wool. In her 300 series she has produced a range of fabulous puffs and cushions, once again demonstrating that with a little imagination and nature’s gift in raw material, wool IS design. Please see her website for further information on her work (www.wendyklaver.com). Images from www.wendyklaver.com ......finally the day has come, we have launched our long awaited for website and are extremely excited about it. With it comes the first of our blogs! As our first blog entry we decided we would draw attention to a fantastic event which lasts for a whole year! It is the INTERNATIONAL YEAR of NATURAL FIBRES (IYNF) 2009.  Brought about by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation – of the United Nations) the year was officially declared on the 20/12/08 at the General Assembly of the UNITED NATIONS. We feel it is the perfect way to introduce our natural wool friendly website. The scope of the IYNF is to promote and raise the We believe whole heartedly in the use of natural and renewable resources and what better way to prove this than to launch our own 100% wool website (www.thewoolroom.com). Wool is wonderful and above all natural, so please join us in living life as nature intended and surrounding yourselves with our beautiful wool products. |
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profile of all natural fibres that can be converted to yarn for use in textiles. With the up rise of synthetic fibres, all natural fibres have lost out on market share. It is vital that we “emphasise their value to consumers while helping to sustain the incomes of farmers. Promoting measures to improve the efficiency and sustainability of production is also an important aspect of the year” (
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