Very low prices for wool

[caterina]

Hello.
I found this article on the extremely low prices given British farmers for wool this year and I thought that it might be of interest.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-58162610.amp

If the business of rearing sheep becomes non-viable for farmers, our supply of wool may be severely impacted too, so this is not good news for any of us, everything else notwithstanding.

Hopefully, the situation will improve and prices will go up again once economy picks up, but I gather that prices were not very high even before the pandemic situation, and the article blames fast-fashion trends, with their reliance on man-made and cheaper fibers. It is good to know that we are doing our bit to counteract fast-fashion trends and use this fantastic natural fiber, supporting an ancient way of living that may well disappear.

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

Hi Caterina.
I'm afraid that it has been going on for years - it costs farmers more to have their sheep shorn than they get for the fleeces - always assuming they can sell them. The fast-fashion fad does have a lot to answer for, not just the manufacturers but the customers who want something for nothing and then throw it away as soon as the next fad arrives. A lot of wool is now going into insulation or sound absorption products, which is good, but I suspect that in each case it is not a market with a quick turn-over. Wool lasts - at least until the moth gets in it - so repeat orders for this sort of industrial use are going to be slow. Until we start going back to using wool as we used to before polyester was invented, I can't see much change either, especially as now we are being told that grazing animals are producing too much methane gas and their numbers must be reduced. Doom and Gloom all around I'm afraid.

[caterina]

Aug 13, 2021 9:25:13 GMT Ann @ frabjous fabrica said:

Hi Caterina.
I'm afraid that it has been going on for years - it costs farmers more to have their sheep shorn than they get for the fleeces - always assuming they can sell them. The fast-fashion fad does have a lot to answer for, not just the manufacturers but the customers who want something for nothing and then throw it away as soon as the next fad arrives. A lot of wool is now going into insulation or sound absorption products, which is good, but I suspect that in each case it is not a market with a quick turn-over. Wool lasts - at least until the moth gets in it - so repeat orders for this sort of industrial use are going to be slow. Until we start going back to using wool as we used to before polyester was invented, I can't see much change either, especially as now we are being told that grazing animals are producing too much methane gas and their numbers must be reduced. Doom and Gloom all around I'm afraid.

Ann, this is very depressing.

[Shepherdess]

It is sad but Australian merino gets most of the garment market. Most sheep do not have fine wool the way merino does. On the upside, I do see more breeds of sheep wool being offered to hand spinners and felters than ever before. It is even helping to keep some breeds alive. So there is hope. Some people do seem to want clothes that last.

[caterina]

Aug 15, 2021 1:31:12 GMT Shepherdess said:

It is sad but Australian merino gets most of the garment market. Most sheep do not have fine wool the way merino does. On the upside, I do see more breeds of sheep wool being offered to hand spinners and felters than ever before. It is even helping to keep some breeds alive. So there is hope. Some people do seem to want clothes that last.

This is good. I wonder if it will remain a niche business, though. Maybe new generations, that seem to be more aware of fast-fashion faults, will promote a change.

[Shepherdess]

Aug 15, 2021 20:04:32 GMT caterina said:

Aug 15, 2021 1:31:12 GMT Shepherdess said:

It is sad but Australian merino gets most of the garment market. Most sheep do not have fine wool the way merino does. On the upside, I do see more breeds of sheep wool being offered to hand spinners and felters than ever before. It is even helping to keep some breeds alive. So there is hope. Some people do seem to want clothes that last.

This is good. I wonder if it will remain a niche business, though. Maybe new generations, that seem to be more aware of fast-fashion faults, will promote a change.

Some breeds a making an effort at marketing and becoming recognizable to the public like Merino, Shetland and Icelandic. Most people think all wool is the same and it is all itchy. It is sad that fineness/softness seems to be the only thing anyone is interested in.