Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wool Takes Cashmere's Crown

The results are in, according to the Australia based Cooperative Research Center for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC), and wool is the winner. Objective testing has shown ultrafine wool garments can outperform 100 percent cashmere and high quality cotton for comfort and softness.

Sheep CRC commissioned the manufacture of select ultrafine wool fabrics to provide a set of benchmarks for the measurement of next to skin comfort and handle.

"It is the first time that ultrafine wool knitwear has been shown, using objective testing, to be superior to other natural fibers in terms of functional qualities valued by consumers," Sheep CRC chief executive officer professor James Rowe said. "Wools in the ultrafine micron category, used for the manufacture of these test garments, represent about two percent of the Australian wool clip and, therefore, constitute a very rare and valuable fiber resource."
more here.

I am always torn on how to respond to people who make faces about wool. Yes, I want to help them expand their horizons and convert them to wool lovers (really, who doesn't like merino?)...but sometimes I just want to roll my eyes and walk away. Demand for wool is increasing and it's getting more expensive. Less people to have to share with, ya know?

Link