Industries that can be impacted by campaigning for wool can directly and/or relatively easily:
- Fashion and textile industry: woolen artifacts are durable and eco-friendly. Taking care of woolen artifacts is relatively easy; when aired occasionally, cleaning is seldom needed. Wool can be easily repaired by darning, mending, or felting.
- Construction industry: heat and sound regulation, insulation material for buildings.
- Agriculture: small-scale sheep breeding for sustainable meat and dairy produce. Wool and sheep waste can also be used as nonchemical/organic fertilizer.
NEXT STEPS
One initial next step will be a little installment at the Center for Craft's Engagement Studio. Visitors will be able to see different wool kinds and learn about the current situation of local wool growing, the challenges, and how they, as consumers, may contribute to reversing this situation. The takeaway pamphlets will give an overview and share suggestions.
Future projects should continue campaigning for wool for different stakeholders Education, networking, and simplifying technology are essential first steps.
The long term needs include more sustainable and value-driven consumption behaviors to revive the use of wool and implement similar studies to other natural fibers. Such transition should promote demanding high-quality products that consider longevity, environmental impact, and local welfare as elemental aspects of consumption decisions.
Like many contemporary issues, increasing the use of local wool is a complicated process. Several stakeholders need to come together for a shared endeavor.
LEARNINGS FROM THE PROJECT
Some reasons behind overlooking locally grown wool as a material for various industries:
- Consumers have limited awareness toward the materials of their objects, and limited knowledge about wool,
- Processing wool from is labor-intensive and costly. This situation demands expensive outcomes to ensure a profitable business,
- The field lacks attraction for new investments and enthusiasts,
- The accessibility and production capacity of wool processing facilities need improvement.
