Art, obsession, and identity
Wool is the textile fiber primarily obtained from sheep. It's also gathered from other animals, including goats. Wool is made up of the protein keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails.
The natural fibers in wool absorb and desorb moisture, creating a dry environment that is hostile to the growth of bacteria, fungus, and dust mites. Furthermore, less dust particles are created by wool. The bottom line? The best bedding for asthma sufferers is anything made from wool.
"Low pile" carpeting, on the other hand, has shorter carpet fibers and tighter loops. This makes for greater freedom during the design stage to produce some attractive geometric patterns.
The Merino sheep is much prized for its wool. A breed originating in Spain's Extremadura region in the 12th century, Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep.
Merino wool is used in baby sleep products such as swaddle baby wrap blankets and infant sleeping bags. How cute and cozy does this toddler look?
The term "woolen blanket" is thought to have been first coined by Flemish weaver Thomas Blanquette in the 14th century.
Did you know that piano hammers are part-made from wool? Their shape, density, wool mixture, and type produce different tones.
Woolly socks: what would winter be like without them? Socks have evolved over the centuries from the earliest models, which were made from animal skins gathered up and tied around the ankles. Wool socks were knitted by hand up to 1589, after which the invention of the knitting machine meant this particular piece of clothing could be manufactured six times faster than by hand.
With flame retardancy up to 600°C ((1112°F), Merino wool has long been the preferred material for firefighters' uniforms.
Household upholstery crafted from wool has practical as well as aesthetic applications. Pictured are two handmade cushions with knitted covers made of soft woolen yarn and decorated with buttons to exude an inviting and rustic ambiance.
Duvets made from wool are super cozy, and as wool is a natural fire retardant, they don't need to be treated with chemicals to meet fire safety criteria.
Natural wool insulation is an environmentally-friendly acoustic and thermal option that when used in walls keeps houses warm and quiet.
Lanolin, also known as wool wax, is a by-product of wool that has a myriad of uses, anything from adhesive tape and shoe polish to lip balm and shampoo.
A sub-species of wild sheep, the mouflon is thought to be the ancestor for all modern domestic sheep breeds.
A Roman pillar fresco from Pompeii dating back to the 1st century depicting wool-working.
Woolmark, a woolen industry trade mark owned by Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI), runs the International Woolmark Prize that recognizes outstanding designers across the globe. Previous winners include Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. Pictured: models wearing wool walk the runway during an Australia Merino "Woolmark Prize" Collection Fashion Show.
See also: The world's wealthiest fashion designers.
Australia is the leading producer of wool, which is mostly from Merino sheep, but has been eclipsed by China in terms of total weight. New Zealand is the third-largest producer of wool.
A mixture of machine-knit materials, including wool, is used to absorb noise in stereo music speakers.
Ancient Greek warriors lined their helmets, like this bronze example from around 500-475 BCE, with felt—a textile material made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur.
Incidentally, knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile or fabric. Pictured: the so-called "Knitting Madonna," the earliest known image of circular knitting, from the 15th-century Buxtehude altarpiece displayed in the Hamburger Kunsthalle in Hamburg, Germany.
A boy's cashmere frock embroidered with silk produced circa 1855 in the Kashmir region of India for the Western market.
The Angora goat, a breed of domesticated goat that originated in Turkey, produces the lustrous fiber known as mohair. It's made from the animal's fleece and like cashmere, is considered a luxury fiber.
While sheep were first domesticated over 10,000 years ago and raised as a food source in Central Asia, sheep shearing didn't begin until 3,500 BCE, when humans learned to spin the sheep's wool. Pictured: ancient spindle whorls, i.e. weighted spindles used for spinning.
Wool has been used to make garments for millennia. Fibers made into yarn and subsequently netted, looped, knit, or woven to make fabrics appeared in the Middle East during the late Stone Age. During the Industrial Revolution, fabric production, including that of wool, advanced rapidly.
Arguably the main use for wool is in the manufacture of clothing. Wool clothing is extremely breathable and less prone to clamminess. Wool's natural elasticity also helps wool garments stretch with your body, yet return to their original shape.
Wool is obtained from the animal by sheep shearing, a process by which the woolen fleece of a sheep is cut off.
The fabric is treated with alkali at room temperature in a simple bath, or as part of a complicated industrial process at suitable higher temperatures. Oil, fat, wax, and other impurities are removed this way. Pictured is wool after scouring.
Before raw sheep's wool can be used for commercial purposes, it must be scoured. Known as "greasy wool," this uncleaned wool contains a high level of valuable lanolin, as well as the sheep's dead skin and sweat residue. Pictured is wool before scouring.
The Changthangi, or Pashmina goat, is a breed of goat inhabiting the plateaus in Tibet, Nepal, parts of Burma, and India. They are raised for ultra-fine cashmere wool, or pashmina wool—the world's finest cashmere.
Luxury fashion labels, including Hugo Boss, Paul Smith, and Nordstrom, stock items produced using Harris Tweed. Footwear and accessory brands have also used the material in their manufacture of goods.
The world famous Harris Tweed cloth is a tweed cloth handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It's made from pure wool. Pictured: a Harris Tweed weaver, around 1960.
Where would we be without wool? This warm, versatile textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats, has been used to make clothing and garments since 3000 BCE. Much of the textile industry that sprang up during the 14th century was based on wool. In time, woolen fleece was being used to make a variety of household items. Later, the material became as much a fashion statement as a vital component in a whole range of manufactured goods.
Click through the following gallery and find out more about wool, and what we use if for.
Small knitted woolen shoes make ideal feet warmers for newborns, don't they?
Wool has also been used for centuries to produce rugs, carpeting, and tapestry. If a carpet is called "high pile," it means the fibers are taller and looser– the kind bare feet and cats love!
Where would we be without wool?
All about wool, and what we use if for
LIFESTYLE Materials
Where would we be without wool? This warm, versatile textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats, has been used to make clothing and garments since 3000 BCE. Much of the textile industry that sprang up during the 14th century was based on wool. In time, woolen fleece was being used to make a variety of household items. Later, the material became as much a fashion statement as a vital component in a whole range of manufactured goods.
Click through the following gallery and find out more about wool, and what we use if for.