Australian Shearling Wool
Australia, where we get our wool, has about 25 million people and approximately 75 million sheep (a ratio of about 3 sheep to every person). Given this, Aussies are pretty serious about the quality of the wool they produce.
While shearling wool has been used by humans for millenia, it cut its teeth in the modern era as a bomber jacket for fighter pilots flying planes in freezing conditions in World War I and II. It then made the move from the military to the high street and has not looked back.
If you already own wool products, you’re already aware of their many benefits. However, for the uninitiated, they are:
Extremely soft
Sheep's wool is primarily set apart by the thickness of the individual fibres. Generally, it is approximately 30 microns thick. By way of comparison a human hair is, on average, 75 microns thick.
Breathable
The natural fibres draw moisture away from the body, meaning your feet stay warm and dry.
Warm and Cool
Unlike man-made material, wool responds to the environment (makes sense when you think about a sheep's natural environment). It keeps you warm when it’s cool, and cool when it’s warm.
Odour Resistant
The natural anti-microbial properties of wool make it odour resistant – a big advantage for some of us!
Stain Resistant
Wool has a protective coating that prevents stains from being absorbed (to a certain degree).
Biodegradable
Wool decomposes very quickly in the environment.
Sustainable
Every year, sheep produce a new fleece, which is then humanely shorn. This, combined with its biodegradability makes it a completely sustainable fibre. Interestingly, many sheep breeds have been bred in such a way that they need to be frequently shorn as their wool does not stop growing. An overabundance of wool can cause heat stress, mobility and other issues for the sheep.
I'm sure you'll agree with us, it's really the only thing you want your slippers made out of!
