Archive for January 30th, 2008

Jan 30 2008

Wool Gathering

Mint Main - 3 years ago - Kathryn Lovell

“Where does virgin wool come from? The sheep that runs the fastest.”
Harry F. Banks, 1895 – 1915

Brrrr! It is arctic outside! Keeping warm while looking stylish can be tricky. That’s why we all owe the Mesopotamian civilizations of 10,000 years ago a thank you card for domesticating sheep. Don’t worry if your note gets lost in the mail- you can show your appreciation by donning some wool.

Felting
Wool Hat Wool is a molecular coil-spring, essentially a curly fiber. And as we all know, curly hair shrinks when it dries, so not surprisingly, wool can shrink dramatically when dried. Commercially that “agitation + heat = shrinking” process is called ‘felting.’ Knowing you ‘felted’ your favorite sweater might not make you any happier, but it does create sensational winter hats that keep you warm and mask iffy hair days.

Elasticity
Wool Tights That same curly structure is what gives wool it’s superior drape and longevity. The fibers can be stretched 30% and still bounce back to their original state. This natural elasticity allows wool to be used for everything from tailored suits to avant garde coats to stockings. Wool tights keep your lower half cozy and a smidge of Lycra helps them maintain your shape.

Warmly
Merino Wool Turtleneck Wool is hygroscopic, so it absorbs vapor moisture. And just like in nature and bank accounts, it goes from high to low. Wool always moves moisture from a high humidity area to a low humidity area, which is how it keeps warm air against you when it’s cold out. It’s also the reason that ‘wool sweater’ is synonymous with warmth. Both cashmere and merino are decadent choices, but merino is more pill resistant.


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