Wool clothing dates back to 10,000 years ago and its use spanned across the ancient world—from Ancient Peru to Egypt to Siberia. While the intention is to reduce risk of fly-borne disease and infection, it’s utterly cruel and often unsuccessful. As a vegan, wool is one of the materials I have been avoiding, as it comes from an animal. In these short clips, sheep are commonly seen being kicked, thrown, cut, and even having their limbs broken. Ahh, the cashmere sweater. While the ethical nature of wool in 1000 BC wouldn’t have been questioned, today there are several concerns surrounding its use as a fabric and questions we should be asking. Mulesing involves cutting skin from the buttock region, and this is generally done without anaesthetic. They shared the details about the sourcing of their alpaca fiber, so that you can rest assured that your alpaca wool gift is ethical from start to finish. Posted on Oct 14, 2018 By Chere Di Boscio A few years ago, many ethical fashion consumers stopped buying angora when they learned how cruelly the material is sourced. WOOL slippers are designed in Denmark and handcrafted by women in rural villages of Nepal using centuries old felting techniques. Sustainable sweater shoppers, rejoice! Many common synthetic fabrics are by-products of petroleum. Lanolin is a grease produced by sheep to help maintain and protect its fleece. Jul 21, 2017 - Welcome to the world of conscious consumers, fair trade, organic fibres, and all the hard work that goes into changing an entire industry, together. Outside New Zealand, artisanal-scale wool processing facilities have opened up around the world. Wool has a unique ability to react to changes in the body’s temperature, meaning it keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. In fact, the alpha-keratin that is made into wool can be found in all mammalian hair, horns, and claws. Across the board, sheep welfare is a concern. The Tree Loungers swap the wool uppers for a silkier feeling TENCEL Lyocell made from eucalyptus plants. Cashmere has since been used all around the world for providing optimal warmth and high-end comfort. There are limited animal welfare standards and the rabbits are killed after they stop producing adequate fur. However, not all wool is created equally, and thus, completely eliminating wool from your wardrobe may be unnecessary. Once again (see: Down), PETA have exposed how brutal the sheep shearing process can be, even in the UK, documenting how sheep are punched, kicked, and left to die. Can we still wear it? Brands like prAna, People Tree, and Seasalt have chosen not to use wool from sheep that have undergone mulesing. The shearing process is ethical and animal friendly and … At end-of-life, wool fabrics don’t have to end up in landfills (provided we as consumers properly recycle or compost them) as they can fully biodegrade in a short amount of time. However, the environmental impact of sheep can be greatly reduced, and even completely negated with proper practices. Large scale angora production typically involves plucking—yes, you read that right. Cashmere dates back to before the 13th century—the infamous Marco Polo allegedly stumbled upon the goats used to make the fabric while exploring in Mongolia. Shearing. “Wool is a fantastic resource, sustainable and tremendously versatile. When it comes to slow fashion, wool is the perfect fabric. Personally, wool is one of my favorite fibers to wear, and as someone trying to be a more ethical knitter and consumer, the welfare of the sheep from where my wool is sourced is top of mind for me. If you’re sold on a pair of angora gloves, double check that you’re getting them from a corporation that chooses ethical angora wool. Up until then, the volume of materials we could produce was constrained by the limits of nature. They could also work to highlight the ethical wool producers and small scale farming operations that can produce cruelty free wool that is beneficial to animals and humans. They would never knowingly support mutilation, for profit or any other reason. This entails sheep being forced to lie on their backs while huge chunks of skin are carved off the buttocks (generally without anesthetic). Wool perhaps isn’t quite so disregarded as leather because the animal isn’t killed but does it make it right and again, how can wool be taken in an ethical way? Generally, if the wool comes from small artisanal farms, traditional farming methods, or certified organic farms, these are the best ways to ensure that your wool stacks up the best on ethical and sustainability scales. Shop sustainable fashion brands like Madewell, Reformation, REI, and Outdoor Voices, all … However, the ethics of wool is not as straightforward as we’d like it to be. As with any money-making venture that involves animals, maximizing profits more often than not means cutting corners and sacrificing the well-being of animals. Wool Wool is another natural, renewable, biodegradable material that isn’t as ethical as you might assume. Not all wool is made equal though, on the sustainability stakes nor on the ethics. There is an obvious discrepancy in the vegan argument against wool. Ethically Sourced Wool Ethical Treatment Of Sheep All of the wool used to create Woolx clothing comes from Merino Sheep in Australia and is Woolmark certified.We insist that our wool supplier only use Wool from farms that participate in the ethical treatment of their … Ethical merino wool does exist—but you’ll have to do your research. The world’s largest exporter of wool is Australia, where mulesing is a common practice. Flystrike happens when blowfly eggs laid on the skin hatch, and the larvae feed on the sheep’s tissue. If you’re looking for a cruelty free fabric, you could look into Lyocell (sometimes referred to as Tencel). Both also have cushioning midsoles made of mostly castor bean oil rather than pure EVA. Ethical sweater or sustainable scarf brands like these are everywhere—you’ll just have to do a little extra research (or read our article since we’ve done the bulk of it for you!). In the summer, this can get problematic as heat exhaustion is more likely, and hotter conditions increase the number of flies and subsequent mulesing. This is because it is naturally derived from the sheep, nothing has to be done to make them grow their wool, they of course grow it naturally. First of all, not all wool comes from sheep! Beyond those like Fjallraven raising sheep of their own, many brands have made traceability and ethical pledges about the type of wool they source. Marks & Spencer has signed up to the Ethical Trading Initiative, but not all companies are as scrupulous. It’s more grey than any area of veganism I’ve investigated to date. Material Guide: How Ethical Is Cashmere? When buying wool, look for standards and certifications that ensure the fair treatment of animals and the respect of the environment, such as the Responsible Wool Standard, ZQ Merino Standard and the Soil Association Organic Standards. Wool Wool is another natural, renewable, biodegradable material that isn’t as ethical as you might assume. Lanolin is a natural wax present in wool, but it often gets washed out by chemicals. As could be expected, many of these sheep end up suffering slow, but extremely painful deaths as a result of this procedure. Synthetic fabrics are also energy-intensive to produce. Thanks to media attention, customers and brands alike are increasingly becoming aware of the animal cruelty in the wool industry. Beyond the fact that sheep are slaughtered, the production of wool raises a few ethical questions. Over 90% of the world’s angora is produced in China. Ethical wool/ cruelty-free wool The Responsible Wool Standard. This lanolin helps protect the slippers from dirt and odor. Your personal ethics are obviously going to play a huge role in the fabrics you choose to help you stay warm in all winter. Unfortunately, unethically sourced wool makes up most of the comfy turtlenecks and warm pairs of socks widely available. Everlane is a brand that makes a frequent appearance on our sustainable and ethical fashion guides. Generally, if the wool comes from small artisanal farms, traditional farming methods, or certified organic farms, these are the best ways to ensure that your wool stacks up the best on ethical and sustainability scales. Wool can be obtained from several different animals (sometimes with differing degrees of ethics)—from goats and qiviut to yaks and bison… even rabbits!. However, since I got involved with the ethical fashion… It is harvested for its own properties and is a great moisturiser. Search Ratings. Can wool ever be cruelty-free and ethical, and how do we make … This is a clear call for an elevated level of transparent integrity; fabricated news and sensational stories must be abandoned. Wool is biodegradable – unlike synthetic materials, wool will decompose. On one hand, sure, wool is a renewable resource and since it’s a natural animal-derived fiber (sometimes called a proteinous fiber) made from natural materials, it’s also biodegradable to the point of being considered compostable. @, wrinkly skin which means more surface area, Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) Sustainable Cashmere Standard, 9 Thrift Shopping Tips for Saving Money and the Planet, 9 Fast Fashion Alternatives For That Slow Fashion Style, 7 Sustainable and Eco Friendly Robes for Feeling Like Royalty. Not only that, but sheep were used to cover three of humanity’s basic needs: clothing, food, and shelter. If you are buying wool, we recommend looking for relevant certifications at the bare minimum. Unsavory footage has been released on several occasions of wool-shearing operations in Australia and the United States. You can look out for clothing made from recycled wool, and of course buying pre-loved or vintage wool items ensures the garment gets a longer useful life. Mulesing is done to reduce flystrike. I just thought it was something I was meant to avoid. Naadam, on the other hand, blends recycled and virgin organic cashmere together. Wool is usually not a good option if you do not support cruelty to animals, or animals being used to make products/fibres. However, many eco-friendly clothing brands are stepping up to baaa-t  and not only sourcing sustainable wool, but also doing so in an ethical and cruelty free way. Shearers respond to thick winter coats on the sheep by shearing them when they get heavy or when the weather warms, so they’re not depriving the animals of necessary insulation in colder seasons. It represents the wool of choice for world-class brands that are serious about producing amazing natural products. If you’d like to read more on cashmere, this guide from CFDA is the best we found. As you can imagine, plucking means pain and distress for the rabbits. October 12, 2020. One of the rarest and most luxurious fibres in the world. In Australia, where more than 50 percent of the world’s merino wool—which is used in products ranging from clothing to carpets—originates, ... People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 757-622-PETA (7382) 757-622-0457 (fax) PETA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation (tax ID number 52-1218336). It’s naturally produced and, as such, is a great alternative to synthetics like polyester and nylon (ahem, plastic). It’s a hemp and coconut “wool” fiber that’s produced with the oyster mushroom! The brand is also a founding partner of the Ethical Fashion Forum. Unfortunately, these brands are still in the vast minority, ethical angora wool is few and far between and there are no ethical certifications we can rely on. One of the most ethical fillings available, wool is a renewable resource that can be shorn from sheep annually. New Zealand wool is pretty ‘up’ there with its ethical treatment of its sheep but the rest of the world not so much. FB TW. One of Considerate’s supplier members Hypnos is renowned for producing supremely comfortable mattresses, Hypnos is committed to providing comfort with integrity. Unfortunately, unethically sourced wool makes up most of the comfy turtlenecks and warm pairs of socks widely available. Fjallraven, for one, decided to improve their sourcing and transparency—so much so that they’ve decided to raise sheep of their own. Is Our Alpaca Wool Ethical? It can cause infection and even death. Thanks for reading, Dan Unfortunately, wool comes with some ethical issues that not many people know about, such as mulesing and slaughter. ZQ Merino is the world’s leading ethical wool. Industrial size livestock grazing can also increase land clearing and degradation. 5 … Industrial livestock grazing typically means land clearing and environmental degradation, not to mention the great amounts of methane gas released from any large quantity of livestock. The production of wool doesn’t involve large amounts of crude oil and generally isn’t processed with chemicals either. Why? If you choose to buy wool products, enquire of the retailer whether the wool is ethically sourced – from sheep that are not mulesed. The sheep producing the wool for your favorite Smartwool ® socks or base layers are treated humanely, are well-fed, live natural and healthy lives, and are not subjected to harmful practices like mulesing. If you want to buy new wool, support brands that use certified ethical wool. Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics. Wool is much the same way. Men of conscience understand that the common practices of the wool industry are wrong. Once a woollen garment has been worn out, you can literally just bury it in the ground and it will eventually compost. There are holistic land management methods of grazing like animals being grazed in smaller paddocks for shorter periods of time, allowing the paddock to be in recovery for most of the time. From shop Pinchoponcho. It is typically subjected to a range of chemicals during its processing. Alpaca Wool Sweater.Handmade Alpaca Wool Sweater.Alpaca Christmas Sweater.Ethical Pinchoponcho. It is harvested for its own properties and is a great moisturiser. The Importance of Ethical Wool. Ethical wool does exist—well, depending on who you ask. If the high price tag of that cashmere scarf isn’t enough to deter you—maybe the greenwashing will be as brands may stretch the truth when it comes to their claims about ethical and sustainable cashmere wool. Sujaan Punja. 5 out of 5 stars (124) 124 reviews $ 19.73. This is because, in Everlane’s words, “alpacas are soft-hooved and gentle grazers, which makes them easier on pastures than other herd animals”. Flystrike happens when blowfly eggs laid on the skin hatch, and the larvae fee… They are eating, fermenting, pooping, peeing and stomping on the grass and keeping it from drying out and chemically oxidizing, (releasing greenhouse gases) and instead opening the thatch for native grasses, nesting birds and ground dwelling insects … It’s used in combination with other types of wools in practically anything warm and wintery. These slippers are 100% fair trade which means we pay our artisans North American wages to help supporting them and their families. It’s important to paint both sides of the picture and not all wool operations are completely inhumane. This all sounds really bad, but ethical angora wool is possible (and even PETA thinks so!). Sustainable Jungle acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung as the Traditional Owners of this country, pays tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this land, and gives respect to the Elders past, present and emerging. Manufacturing involves large amounts of crude oil, and releases emissions into the atmosphere that contribute to global warming and affect human health. Some brands are taking advantage of this natural phenomenon. One of the reasons that wool is subject to so much recent debate in eco minded circles is because it also happens to be one of the more sustainable fabrics out there. It is shorn once a year, a process that includes sorting beforehand, shearing with a hand-used razor, and afterwards the fleece is carded, spun, washed, and air-dried. I don’t have as much issue with wool, because shearing doesn’t normally harm or kill sheep, goats, or alpacas. (At Cuyana, Grade A cashmere is 14 to … The bottom line. Share for change. A cashmere goat, from which the luxury wool is derived. With that fight largely in the rearview, organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have set their sights on a new goal: Fighting against the use of wool. 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