Another Rivendell Tenet Set to Hit the Mainstream?

[Mark in Beacon]

Wool. Breaking out of its "niche" via "sustainability?" Shepherding could be a good career path. Or seaweed gatherer.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90359188/the-next-big-thing-in-fashion-not-washing-your-clothes

I've always washed my "Dry Clean Only" wool stuff (except suits) after a suitable number of wearings. Cool water, no dryer.

[John Hawrylak]

It just seems to me wool priced it itself out of contention since the mid 1980's.  The synthetics seem to be just as good, wash easily (don't use Cl beach) and cotton is everywhere.  Just a simple observation over the years.

A few folks in the local club came back from 2 weeks in Scotland and was amazed at the number of sheep everywhere, but saying the local complained the wool was not in demand.  Are the production costs to gather the wool extremely high compared to other fabrics?

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

[William deRosset]

Dear John,

The short answer is yes, wool is more expensive. It also is harder to work with than most synthetics in my amateur experience.

It is harder to source if you care about getting the knit/weave just so. Critters eat it. It felts unless chemically treated. It shrinks. You can't easily print giant logos on it.

It is worth it, though. And washing wool on the gentle cycle in cold water is just fine, as long as the garment can be reblocked and didn't require a lot of hand fitting work (good hand-tailored suits will likely require reconstruction if washed vs an engineered fit suit).

Cheers,

Will
William M deRosset
Fort Collins CO USA

[William deRosset]

Hi, All,

I forgot to add: that said, I ran to work this morning in a wool t-shirt, socks, and underwear. My work togs all week include hard-finish wool overshirts and wool slacks, which get washed maybe three times a year.

And the wash fills up with the odd cotton bits long before the wool knits pick themselves up and wander off of the "worn, but not yet dirty" pile to the wash basket.

Synthetics last effectively forever, and smell of, well, me, after a few hours's use. Even the silver-treated "antibacterial" ones.

Wool is a good material.

Best Regards,