Do you know about wool? Do you know where it comes from, how it comes to be in the jerseys, suits and coats that are bought?
Wool - a unique fibre, with the most phenomenal characteristics.
In a time of fast fashion, unsustainable consumption and a failing local economy, supporting local production, investing in natural fibre and making ethical and conscious fashion decisions is the way to go.
South Africa is a vast and beautiful country with a rich history of sheep and wool farming. This long history has established woolgrowers who have a keen appreciation of how to care for their animals and the environment. As a result, the industry consistently generates a high quality, environmentally sound product for international markets.
The Merino wool sheep has a rich history in the Greater Karoo region of South Africa. The breed was introduced to the area in the late 18th century by Dutch settlers who brought them from Europe. These settlers realized that the harsh environment of the Karoo was ideal for sheep farming, and the Merino breed was particularly suited for the arid conditions.
Die Merino-skaap het vinnig 'n steunpilaar van die Karoo-boerderybedryf geword, en teen die vroeë 19de eeu het die streek die grootste produsent van Merino-wol ter wêreld geword. Die skaap het gedieë in die droë klimaat en unieke plantegroei van die gebied, en 'n hoë-kwaliteit wol geproduseer wat baie gevra was.
Over time, the Merino wool industry became a major economic driver for the Greater Karoo region, with farmers organizing into cooperatives and exporting their wool to markets around the world. Today, the Merino wool industry remains an important part of the region's economy, with farmers continuing to raise and breed the sheep for their prized wool.
Die Merino-wol skaap het nie net die ekonomie van die Groter Karoo gevorm nie, maar ook die kulturele identiteit van die streek, met die skaap en hul wol wat 'n simbool van die gebied se veerkragtigheid en vindingrykheid in die gesig van uitdagende omstandighede geword het.
We give you a glimpse into what wool farming on a South African Karoo sheep farm looks like. The farmer always puts his flock first, checking on them constantly to make sure that they are healthy and in good condition. A special bond is created between the farmer, farm staff and the sheep. One of care and mutual respect. There is an art to farming sheep in an ethical and sustainable manner, a way of life that manny South African farmers have adopted.
Lindsey Humphrey of BKB explains to us why regenerative farming looks like and what it means for a more sustainable farming future.
We all know what a wooly sheep looks like covered in a fluffy fleece and similarly know what a wool jersey looks like, but what happens in between. The International Wool Textile Organisation takes us through the processing that occurs to take the wool from the sheep back to your clothes.
Learning more about Gerber & Co.
Merino Wool is one of South Africa's most abundant and sustainable natural fibres. Since the arrival of the first Merino sheep at the Cape in 1789, the South African wool industry has grown to support 8000 commercial and around 40 000 communal farmers, their families and farm workers employed in the industry. Over the years South African wool farmers have faced numerous challenges, from severe drought, economic instability, and international trade restrictions. Despite these challenges, our wool industry has continued to thrive, largely due to the passion and unwavering dedication of its wool producers. It is these characteristics that sit at the very heart of the South African wool industry, and they can be felt along the entire value chain.
Here we have the privilege of sharing the story of Stefan and Francisce Gerber, South African wool producers who created their own fully traceable wool apparel line "Gerber & Co”, as a way to value–add to their wool and save their farm in the midst of a severe drought. The journey to creating Gerber & Co came with its own set of challenges. In many cases, they had to reinvent the wheel in order to produce the wool that we can now wear as a luxuriously soft jersey. Not only is the Gerber & Co product fully traceable and sustainable, but the brand was built on the essence of community.
Cape Wools October 2022
Introducing RoundAbout
https://www.roundaboutcommunity.com/discover/wool
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International Wool Textile Organisation
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