The Great British Wool Revival
British wool is undergoing a renaissance, and not before time. By Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys
Fashion Roundtable have been working and mapping out issues facing the British wool industry after Meg Pirie, Fashion Roundtable’s Welsh and Slow Fashion policy lead, explored the Welsh wool industry. In Wales like most of the UK, farmers are not even paid enough money to cover the cost of shearing the sheep meaning they are always at a loss. Shearing is a primal function that needs to take place on a yearly basis to maintain the health and wellness of the sheep. Due to this many fleeces ending up being burnt or used as installation with very little worth or monetary value.
With our insights into the fashion and textile industry, we felt it was our duty to explore these problems in more depth to evaluate the best case practice from farm to garment following regenerative frameworks and sustainable and cyclical ways of working with the aim to provide a solution to the broken wool system.
The first problem that was established was the gap in teaching, knowledge and understanding around the British wool space which is a clear disconnect between farmers, designers and industry. In order to fix broken systems and rebuild close relationships came the design of ‘The Great British Wool Revival’ which works as an open based tool with a shared vision, to help designers and makers navigate an on-shore supply chain right from the farm and flock to end-product or garment.
Four organisations have come together to make The Great British Wool Revival possible: The project is directed and run by Fashion Roundtable and is written and researched by The Wool Library. It has been funded by YOOX NET-A-PORTER as part of its Modern Artisan programme for 2024, a pioneering talent initiative to train emerging designers and makers in partnership with The King's Foundation at their headquarters at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland - where conversations around using locally reared sheep for wool began.
From sourcing raw fleece from either independent farmers or British Wool, to spinning, processing and manufacturing everything is mapped out to simplify the process and ease the stress on both farmer and designer. We acknowledge that working with British wool can be overwhelming so to support this we have a terminology and glossary guide including workflow sheets to use as prompts throughout the design process. Alongside this, we have highlighted some amazing case studies as a celebration of the incredible work that many farmers, designers and makers are already achieving to share their insights, stories and journeys.
Being involved as a designer in both the British wool and fashion sector for the last five years, whilst coming through a university system that only supports synthetic and merino wools as a ‘norm’ plus lack of teaching within this field, this website is both exciting and imperative in order to create institutional and systemic change.
Many of the knowledge gaps that exist as a result of the Industrial Revolution can be re-established and restored back to a time when British wool was seen as a valuable asset and commodity.
With the aid of this simple tool it will help to bridge ‘knowledge gaps’ between farming and fashion to not only educate new and upcoming designers but brands and industry who are trying to work towards better with more responsible working practices. Anywhere from one small collection or product a year to larger runs helps to drive our industry to once again thrive.
We hope that this open resource will encourage more people to come on board and join ‘The Great British Wool Revival’ to truly enjoy the incredible benefits that this fibre has to offer!
The Classic Car Boot Sale returns, celebrating 100 years of the MG. London 28th - 29th September 2024
Scream if you want to go faster!
The Classic Car Boot Sale returns to London’s King’s Cross on 28-29th September, this time with some extra twists and turns and all the fun of the fair.
Together with the guaranteed and much-loved quality sustainable shopping, this late summer edition includes top notch entertainment and, for the first time, a Family Fun Zone with a mini-Ferris wheel and merry-go-round fairground rides.
To celebrate the centenary of the British-designed MG, there will also be a special display of these much-loved award-winning motors.
This is the capital’s largest public fashion event with great people watching opportunities as visitors arrive in their best threads from their favourite decades to shop from over 100 carefully curated vintage and designer second hand sellers. Visitors can also admire all the brilliantly designed classic vehicles, meet friends and enjoy delicious street food and drinks from the Routemaster Bus Bar, while dancing the day away to the live vinyl-spinning DJs.
Re-visit our conversation with the curator of this fantastic event, Wayne Hemingway MBE, where discusses the Classic Car Boot Sale, fashion and much more with our CEO Tamara Cincik. Listen on Spotify, Apple or Substack
Do you want to do good and feel good? Sign up for The Right Project’s 5 week wellbeing course for Fashion industry professionals
The fashion industry is characterised by burnout. Long hours, ambitious targets, ever-expanding job roles, climate anxiety, looming regulations, dwindling resources - working in sustainable fashion makes you vulnerable to chronic stress from overwork.
The Right Project have designed these happiness sessions with fashion professionals in mind, to help you manage a better work life balance.
Over five weeks you will: -
Develop practical techniques that can instantly boost happiness
Learn the latest science on gratitude, acceptance and more
Practice mindfulness and self-kindness exercises throughout
Work on inner enquiry, reflection and transformation
Create your own personalised happiness toolkit
Be guided through regular check-ins and habit building activities
These sessions have been primarily designed to help fashion professionals navigate the demands of their work and personal life with clarity and confidence. But they’re also for anyone seeking personal development and looking to improve their own happiness, resilience and overall mental well-being.
Starts Friday 6th September 2024 with Roxanne Houshmand-Howell
Sustainable Fashion Week, 20th - 29th September 2024
Sustainable Fashion Week is back for it’s fourth year, celebrating the Power of Repair. Spreading out across the UK, SFW 2024 is an explosion of community action. Uniting the community in taking creative action, to change the fashion system from the bottom up.
The programme is split between their Hubs and their Fringe, with all activities being designed and delivered by brilliant and inspiring people in the community.
The Flagship Hubs partners this for this years SFW programme are Bath Spa University and the new National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability .
A partnership between Bath Spa University, Fashion Roundtable and the world-renowned Fashion Museum Bath, the National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability will create a space where leading thinkers, learners, businesses and communities can connect and drive the fashion and textile industry toward new, regenerative practices that will be healthy for people and the planet.
Ticket Links:
All tickets are available to book on the Yuup platform.
Nettle Dress Film Screening + Q&A