 |
|
BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters buy an organic wool top instead of one made from conventional cotton, we'll keep the weight of 139 wolves in conventional wool outta production.
COCKTAIL FACT
An Aussie oil spill in 2000 resulted in a global call for penguin-sized wool sweaters, which keep 'em from preening themselves so they don't swallow oil.
| SAVE TO MY BITES |  |
FORWARD TO A FRIEND:
RATE THIS TIP:
How useful is this tip to you?
(5 is the highest)
home › tip library › Wool Apparel
Wool: good or baa-aahhd?
The Bite
Good if it's coming from a good farm. Organic wool is a baa-aahh-utiful (last time, promise) fabric that's wicked warm and has natural antimicrobial properties. Looking sheepish ain't such a bad thing.The Benefits
- Less chemically processed sweaters. Conventional wool is double-dipped in chems: pesticides first, and a chem bath that strips away lanolin second.
- Giving oil-based synthetics the ol' hoof-ho. Just like Dad's back hair, sheep re-grow wool amazingly fast (merino sheep produce as much as 40 pounds per year).
- Being a good earthly shepherd. Organic sheep farmers must maintain pastures without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, and sheep feed must be certified organic, sans antibiotics or hormones.
- Lookin' hotter than a not-yet-shorn ewe in July.
Personally Speaking
When Jen was a kid, her grandma knitted her a wool sweater (no one knew she was allergic). Forced to wear the sweater out, she ended up stripping in the middle of a mall to prove to her fam that it was giving her hives.Wanna Try?
- Stewart+Brown Merino Bell Cardigan - we can't afford it, but maybe you can: beautiful, hand-knit vest made from free-range merino ($245).
- Kelly B Big Button Jacket - black or red jacket with military-esque details ($160).
- SmartWool Midweight Zip-T - sporty, comfy-cozy merino wool sweater; 10% of all online orders go to an eco-charity. Also: a men's version ($80).
- Nui Organics Felted Double Breast Jacket - cream-colored eco-merino wool for style-conscious infants ($70).
- Teko Ultralight Micro Socks - nonbulky, water-wicking socks made with sustainable EcoMerino wool and recycled polyester. Also: a men's crew version ($13-$17).
Sep 02,2008
Sponsor
All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Looking Sheepish
Today I'm writing in from England, where I'm working on getting our upcoming UK edition rolling. And as I look out the window at a heavy, overcast sky and a sea of cold brick buildings (what month is it?), I wonder, what's so merry about Merry England anyway?
Well, third only to frothy pints of beer sliding your way in the pub and - who are we kidding - Cadbury, I'd have to say that where there's good cheer, it's got something to do with inclement-weather-snuffing wool sweaters and coats. I was hoping to document this blog with a few photos taken at a traditional woolen mill in the English Cotswolds, but since my visit there's postponed, here's a look at the process: sheep (possibly the cutest animal on the planet, especially the Cotswold breed) to finish.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to pull some wool over my eyes...
More eco-wool finds:
Well, third only to frothy pints of beer sliding your way in the pub and - who are we kidding - Cadbury, I'd have to say that where there's good cheer, it's got something to do with inclement-weather-snuffing wool sweaters and coats. I was hoping to document this blog with a few photos taken at a traditional woolen mill in the English Cotswolds, but since my visit there's postponed, here's a look at the process: sheep (possibly the cutest animal on the planet, especially the Cotswold breed) to finish.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to pull some wool over my eyes...
More eco-wool finds:
- John Patrick - this designer's new-classic, higher-end pieces for fall incorporate organic and recycled wool; shop list here.
- Skin and Threads - we're fans of this Aussie company's new, modern, fall collection, not least its eco-merino blends; available in select stores.
Biter Comments...
...and let's not forget that just like dairy cows, the sheep will eventually be "spent." They'll be slaughtered locally if they're lucky, or sent on a two-week trip to slaughter in Saudi Arabia if they're not lucky:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_export
Nothing about wool is environmentally friendly, no matter how thoroughly certain companies greenwash their products.
Sheep are a major source of methane, which is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. In fact, New Zealand recognizes that the problem is so serious that they are using sheep methane reductions toward meeting their Kyoto targets: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/05/0509_020509_belch.html
Rather than a rather simple "reduce your consumption of animal products" solution, scientists and politicians are pushing for injections that will alter the animals' (mainly cows and sheep) production of methane: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11170158
Polyester has gotten a bad reputation for being an oil product, but in this case, synthetic down and acrylic yarns are significantly better for the environment--from a glogal warming perspective.
For the knitters: http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/next_gen_knitting
Three cheers for mentioning Smart Wool! I found their socks several years ago and it's the only wool I wear that does not make me itch! Plus the fact that my feet stay drier (and warmer) makes me a very happy camper in the winter!
Sorry, but I have to stick with cotton and synthetics. Pure wool is absolutely out of the question for me; makes me itch like CRAZY! (Although I've been told that if you rinse pure woollen garments with fabric softener, they'll be less itchy. I haven't tried that myself, though.) I can, however, wear BLENDS of wool and synthetics as long as they're more synthetic than wool.
Hear hear! Let's hear about organic cotton. I'm in Jen and Linda's boat -- wool sounds lovely but makes me look all blotchy! I can't even wear blends... I'll take the tip for my hubby, though.
Love the tip about organic wool, but, for the knitters, how about some sources for organic wool yarn?
Just wanted to say that anything that causes unnecessary suffering to me is not environmentally friendly. This is the info provided by the ALF that describes how wool is actually taken.
~The museling is one of the most current and atrocious practice to take wool of the sheep. The wool represents much suffering, the sheep which one takes wool are in a sorry state and suffer considerably. Each year the sheep undergo this practice. The purpose of it is to avoid the infections of parasites. The farmer cuts out the flesh around the genitals. Just like the castration and the cut of the tail, this operation proceeds without anaesthesia. Currently, one exploits more than 100 million sheep. Australia produced wool 30% for the whole world. In Australia, the sheep which are most generally high are the merinos, resulting from the crossing of the local race arlésienne with the merino of Spain appreciated for the smoothness of its wool.
Museling: The farmers force the sheep with mettrent themselves on the back, and retain their legs between the metal bars. Without the least anaesthesia, they cut out large pieces of flesh around the tail (the rear-axle unit). This is done to prevent that the flies do not lay eggs in the folds of the skin. The wounds thus exposed are bloody and the sheep yield pains. The sheep are individuals who feel pain, fear and loneliness, like the other animals. But because of the trade whose they are the object, they are treated like simple machines to produce wool.
~
I agree with Dawn; unless the sheep are humanely treated, it doesn't really matter if they are "organic" or not, and then there's the whole methane thing. I don't need to wear wool that badly.
Sheep have been domesticated like dogs and cats, and specially bred to produce a lot of wool. Maybe a better eco tip would be to boycott wool to reduce the demand so the breeding and unnecessary harm to the animals can be phased out. We have organic cotton, soy, bamboo and recycled fabrics - there's simply no need for wool.
All you non-wool folks must live in warm places.
Wool is, and will always be, my cold weather material of choice. Fleece is too static-filled and less durable, not mention more dangerous (ever get a spark on a fleece jacket?). I cannot see how wearing materials derived from chemicals that very well may be off-gassing AND may have been harnful to produce is more environmentally friendly than a natural material.
Should we campaign for more animal-friendly collection practices? Absolutely. But adding even more unnatural materials to our already toxic lives seems foolish.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Maureen | September 02, 2008 at 08:40 AM