Where does your merino wool come from, and is it actually animal-friendly?

By popular demand, we’re going to tell you a little about our wool suppliers. Because, knowing how discerning you all are, we’ve been bombarded with questions lately. And not just about sustainability in terms of our environment and the planet, but also about the welfare of the animals behind the scenes.

Kudos to you: You think beyond the obvious and won’t settle for the standard pretty words. Not that you’d ever catch us doing that, haha—we’re proud to handle questions and requests in a way that’s just a little different from the norm. And we’re also proud of you—our dear, sharp, and discerning customer—because you consume consciously and, in doing so, keep us extra sharp and focused. Enough flattery :-)? Sustainable and respectful production involves many different aspects. Today in the spotlight: the sheep, baaaah.

WHERE DOES YOUR WOOL COME FROM?

The yarn suppliers we work with source their wool globally and are RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) certified. This standard guarantees animal welfare and sustainable farming practices in wool production. In general, we can say that most merino wool comes from New Zealand and Australia, cashmere from Mongolia, and yak wool from the Himalayas and Central Asia. “Our” little sheep prefer dry—and high—altitudes.

ARE THE SHEEP HAPPY & HEALTHY, AND HOW IS THAT MONITORED?

Their living conditions are excellent; the animals are cherished and well cared for. This is monitored by the RWS, the Responsible Wool Standard. This means that every affiliated sheep farmer signs an agreement containing a long list of mandatory regulations. These range from optimal nutrition to the right amount of clean drinking water—it even goes so far as to include special privileges for pregnant ewes.

There are regular physical check-ups, but the sheep’s mental well-being also receives attention: there’s a full-fledged checklist of stress symptoms and how to address them. We don’t see a human boss doing that anytime soon... Those usually only take action once we’ve bashed each other’s brains in and/or are roaring while smashing our foreheads into the company wall.

Also, sick animals aren’t culled if it can be avoided. They receive medical care and special transportation if they need to be moved. We’re not kidding. (Would they call a “Übêêêr” for them??)

DO THE SHEEP LIVE IN STYLE?

Sheep that roam outdoors generally have plenty of space and enough shelter from rain or wind. The land they graze on is kept free of harmful substances and erosion (holes or potholes where the poor sheep could break their spindly legs) and is planted with a variety of crops to maintain biodiversity.

Sheep can’t be outside 24/7 every season: the barns where they stay during the colder days are also set up according to strict guidelines. For example, the animals must have enough room to move around so they can walk and lie down, they’re entitled to access to natural light, and loud, unexpected noises are strictly prohibited. (Are you listening, neighbour with the jackhammer?)

HOW ANIMAL-FRIENDLY IS THE WOOL HARVESTED?

Shearing properly is quite an art—common knowledge, we’re sure. And our suppliers are members of Woolmark, an umbrella trade organization that, among other things, provides training to ensure shearing is done as skillfully, painlessly, and stress-free as possible—for both the sheep and the shearer.

Shearing is still done by hand—earlier experiments with protein injections that caused the fleece to fall off on its own were successful, but for unclear reasons, wool producers haven’t adopted this method. If the sheep is positioned and held correctly, the risk of skin damage is minimal. While shearing is quite stressful for a sheep, it must be done even without the fashion industry’s involvement. Otherwise, the poor animal will succumb to overheating and/or infectious diseases caused by insects nesting in its fleece. Shearing is therefore necessary in any case, but it’s important to do it as humanely and skillfully as possible.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW?

Absolutely. Let’s quickly talk about mulesing and why it’s such a complex issue. Mulesing involves removing the skin around the sheep’s anus—often without anesthesia—to prevent insects from nesting in the skin folds. This practice is, understandably, highly controversial.

THE RWS AND MULESING: WHAT’S TRUE AND WHAT’S NOT?

Our yarn suppliers are members of the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), which officially prohibits mulesing. That sounds reassuring, and it is—to a certain extent. But here’s the catch: the wool supply chain is long and complex. Wool from different farms is often combined and blended before it reaches us. And although RWS certification requires that no mulesing take place , this long supply chain means we cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that every single fiber in our yarn comes from a sheep that has never been subjected to this practice.

We find this frustrating, because transparency is important to us. We work with suppliers who are committed to mulesing-free wool and who are regularly audited. But to be honest: we cannot give a foolproof guarantee. The industry still has a long way to go when it comes to full traceability.

WHAT DO WE DO?

We consciously choose suppliers who are members of RWS and Woolmark, because these standards—despite their limitations—go much further than those of the conventional wool industry. We regularly ask our suppliers for their certificates and look for ways to make the supply chain more transparent. And we’re honest with you about what we can and cannot guarantee.

HAPPY SHEEP DON’T COME CHEAP

Long story short: we do our very best to work with wool from sheep that are well cared for. RWS certification provides important safeguards for animal welfare, even if the system isn’t perfect. The finest wool comes from sheep that lead good lives—you can see it and feel it. You’ll also feel it in your wallet; that’s the flip side of the coin.

Happy sheep don’t come cheap. And, unfortunately, a perfect, fully transparent system doesn’t exist yet. But we’ll keep striving to do better, and we’ll keep you honestly informed about where we stand. Because you don’t deserve empty promises—you deserve the truth.

As far as we’re concerned, these were the most important ins and outs regarding the welfare of the wonderful animal that provides our wool. But of course, there are many more aspects of sustainable wool processing worth sharing—and we’ll definitely be doing that in the near future. So keep asking questions, stay curious, and stay mindful of what matters most to you. We promise to keep you updated regularly and, in the meantime, to continue providing you with beautiful wool products. Deal?