Skip to main content

Sheep wool

Schafwolle

Our goal is to promote textile art made from natural fibers from South America.

The sheep's wool is representative of the Puna area in northern Argentina. The artisans mainly use the natural colors of the wool. The complex weaving technique with this wool is mastered by the women in this region. The sheep's wool is purchased in the various towns in the area where the producers are located.

In the communities of the Puna, the breeding of llamas and sheep for meat and fiber production is encouraged; the fibers are processed for the production of textile handicrafts. This economic activity consists of several stages until it reaches the garment. The process begins with raising and caring for the animals, then shearing and cleaning the wool so that it is ready for spinning. The women also work with natural dyes to dye the yarn and obtain different colors to weave the fabrics either on the loom or with needles. This work has been carried out by small organizations and communities in Argentina for generations.

Shearing and wool production
The animals are sheared once a year in South America and the wool is then supposed to grow back for twelve months before being sheared again the following summer. Shearing is carried out by hand using scissors by specialists (hand shearing).

Sheep wool

Firm – Elastic – Flexible – Soft – Comfortable – Dirt-repellent

Properties of sheep wool
Sheep's wool is strong, which means it has the ability to stretch a lot before breaking. It is also elastic as the sheep's wool returns to its natural length after being stretched. Thanks to this stretch property, wool is able to maintain the shape of garments. Sheep's wool is also hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water vapor in a humid atmosphere and loses it in a dry atmosphere. Wool fibers are able to absorb up to 50% of their weight in water.

A special feature is of great importance in order to obtain resistant and long-lasting fabrics. The wool fiber can conform to any shape without breaking or tearing. Excellent insulation against cold and heat: The ability to act as a good heat insulator is due to the shape of the fibers. In addition, wool clothing does not stick to the body. In addition, our sheep's wool for the production of our clothing and home textile products has excellent drape, softness and increased comfort due to the ventilation of the fabric. Finally, sheep's wool is dirt-repellent and easy to clean.