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On Tuesday a group of Artisan Spinners, Weavers and Dyers from all over the country came together in Bradford at the headquarters of the Wool Marketing Board. The object of the gathering was to learn more about the wider commercial wool industry  and also The Campaign For Wool so that we could all go back to our respective “corners” and spread the word that wool is wonderful.

We were treated to a Grand Day Out by our hosts, the Wool Board which started with a trip to Northern Wools where we had a tour of the grading depot. They handle mind boggling quantities of raw sheep wool every year which is all graded and packed ready for auction on the world stage.

The last stage before winding into the top

Then it was off to Haworths Scouring Company, owned and run by Martin Curtis. Haworths scour up to 1 million kilos of wool per week! Most of it is from the UK but they also deal with the whole Norwegian wool clip plus sizeable quantities from New Zealand and other world wool producers. All of it goes through the largest bowl washing system you have ever seen. 8 washes take out all the dirt and grease (not QUITE all the grease – 0.2% on average is left and by arrangement, more can be left if specifically requested/needed) and produce at the end of the drying etc, the most wonderful snowstorm of fluff ready to turn into fabulous clean tops of 20-22kg weight. This final transformation takes place in a brand spanking new combing shed which  is merely a huge upscaled version of our combs, drum carders, hard carders and diz. I say “merely” in no derogatory sense – just to help people realise that the processes are exactly the same-  just on an unimaginably huge scale!

This was the huge opening machine which pulled apart the compressed wool as it started its journey from bale to top.

The vast wash bowl system stretching away into the distance. There was another line of them on the other side!

One of the most impressive things about Haworths was the total commitment to recycling. EVERYTHING was recycled. The washing water of course but the dirt which settled out of it in a new £2000000 effluent treatment plant was used for land reclamation – not as landfill but as good quality  soil. The dirt in a sheeps fleece is of course, top soil.  The lanolin is poured into drums and while some goes for the cosmetics industry, most is now sold as shrimp and prawn food to the Far East! Next time you eat a plate of farmed King Prawns just remember, what those prawns had for dinner was produced by sheep here in the UK! Neeldless to say, stray scraps of wool are all swept up and reused somewhere along the chain.

Here are bales of sweepings waiting to go off for their next process.

The finished tops were stunning. Having seen how they started life it was even more impressive.

The last stage before winding into the top

We were all very impressed by the environmental controls. It made it even more imperative that we buy British where we know EXACTLY how our fibres are processed. Buy from China,India etc and you know equally well that environmental management consists of opening the waste outlet into the nearest river! Of course we did the same 200 years ago but we have learned from  our mistakes.

Martin explained that although Haworths scour colossal quantities of wool for the biggest buyers in the world, they are also really keen to  supply the Artisan market. Son Adam Curtis runs  The Real Shetland Company and will be delighted to help find what you want. They can provide all sorts of breeds, (not just Shetland!) ready to spin.

Our afternoon was spent back at Wool House learning more about the Campaign For Wool and its achievements so far.Chairman of the Campaign, John Thorley started us off then Bridgette Kelly from the Wool Board took us through events so far.  Obviously I knew much of this but it was great to have a recap of what has happened around the world in the last 2 years. We had an informal Q and A session running in parallel and it was really encouraging to see just how much we all had in common. The Wool Board rarely get involved with our Artisan community and for them to hear the depth of knowledge and understanding coming through in our quite tough questioning was quite an eye opener I think! We ALL learned something from the experience and universally I think came away with a much greater sense of being one Wool Community – not lots of little enclaves and sectors. We HAVE to work together if we are to channel our respective passion and energies into ongoing sucess for wool in our tough times.

If anyone wants to know more then do let me know.