Whether in cold or warm seasons – people always love to snuggle up in textiles made of new wool! This natural material is used in various products from duvets to slippers to warm winter clothing. Everything important about new wool, including its characteristics and how to wash it, you can find out here!
What is new wool?
Everyone knows:
Wool comes from the fleece of sheep.
The fluffy hairs of the animals are a natural fiber and consist mostly of protein.
Wool is not just wool! So what exactly is meant by the term “new wool” and what is the difference from other types of wool?
Pure new wool: what exactly is it?
Sheep’s new wool comes exclusively from living animals and is freshly obtained once or twice a year. Old textiles or pelts from slaughtered sheep are therefore not included. If the wool contains no chemical substances or synthetic fibers it is called pure new wool .
With sheep’s new wool, several wool qualities are also distinguished:
- Merino new wool: highly curly, very fine and therefore particularly high quality
- Crossbred wool: fine but robust, produced by crossing Merino and coarse wool sheep
- Long wool: very shiny and relatively little curly or scaly
- Coarse wool: barely curly or scaly
- Lambswool: comes from lambs and is especially soft
What is the difference between wool and new wool?
Animal wool is always sheared from the animal, so is every wool automatically new wool? No, actually it is not the same. New wool, as mentioned, comes only from living animals. However, wool can also come from dead animals or used textiles and may be of somewhat lower quality. In summary, there are these distinctions in wool:
- Reclaimed wool comes from slaughtered animals
- Sterling wool comes from naturally deceased animals
- Reclaimed wool is a recycled product from old textiles
- Virgin wool is obtained directly from the living animal
How can you recognize virgin wool?
Thanks to its warming properties, the soft material is gladly used for various textiles like cozy blankets, fluffy rugs, as well as warm sweaters or slippers. But how can you actually tell if the virgin wool is genuine? As a layperson, probably not at all, which is why there are different textile abbreviations to identify wool. The abbreviation WV stands for virgin wool, while WO is used for reclaimed wool. Terms like "pure wool" basically say nothing, so the rule is: always pay attention to the abbreviation!
By the way: There are specific abbreviations for wool from other animals, such as WP for alpaca, WS for cashmere, WY for yak, or WA for angora.
How is virgin wool actually produced?
From the sheep in the pasture to the finished wool product, several production steps are required. The actual "producers" of the wool are primarily the sheep, as they provide the fleece. Once or twice a year, the sheep are sheared and give their wool, which is ideally obtained in one continuous piece.
This usually happens in spring, because the wool fibers are then stronger and longer.
Afterwards, the wool is sorted by quality and color and first thoroughly cleaned before further processing. Using a so-called carding machine, the wool is then combed and loosened and subsequently dyed and spun into yarn.
During spinning, the fibers contract tightly and are twisted into threads, which are then woven further into fabrics . From there, the virgin wool can be processed into various products such as slippers, rugs, blankets, or clothing.
Virgin wool properties: what makes the fabric so unique
Wool has been used as a raw material for textile production for thousands of years. But why exactly? Simply because the high-quality natural material has many positive properties that offer essential advantages, especially for textile products.
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breathable and moisture-absorbing
In synthetic fabrics, you usually sweat quickly, but wool lets the skin breathe and absorbs moisture very effectively inside the fibers. The material can even absorb up to 33% of its dry weight in water without feeling damp. The water vapor is then simply transported outwards by the wool fabric. Virgin wool is therefore perfect for hand-knitted felt slippers.
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temperature-regulating: both warming and cooling
Wool is sometimes called a natural air conditioner for the body because it optimally regulates our body temperature. Its crimped fibers create air pockets that provide good insulation. For this reason, wool textiles are especially popular in winter because they keep the skin pleasantly warm and insulate against the cold from outside. At the same time, wool also balances temperature in warmth and ensures that you don’t sweat in wool clothing or wool slippers. The perfect mix for any climate!
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water- and dirt-repellent
Despite their impressive fleece, sheep do not get completely soaked in the rain. The reason for this is the wool grease lanolin. It repels water and dirt, which is also very practical for processed wool textiles. Wool products therefore do not easily absorb dirt and are very easy to care for. Instead of regular washing, it is usually enough to simply air the textiles outside for a while.
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neutralizes odors
A major advantage over synthetic fibers is that virgin wool does not easily absorb unpleasant odors like sweat. On the contrary, wool neutralizes odors and quickly releases them back into the environment. This is a big plus, especially for slippers or sportswear!
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durable and long-lasting material
The fibers of virgin wool are particularly elastic, which makes the wool very durable in its properties. It is extremely colorfast, wrinkles little and also retains its shape . Additionally, wool is very hard to ignite.
In short: the material is very reliable, especially for textiles!
Sustainable wool: what you need to know
Wool is a natural, environmentally friendly, and renewable raw material and is therefore considered especially "green."
But don’t get too excited yet, because all this only applies if the wool comes from animal-friendly husbandry and if as few chemicals as possible are used during production.
Production makes the difference!
Especially with cheap wool products, it is often hard to trace where the material actually comes from and under what conditions the animals had to provide the wool . Additionally, some manufacturers mix chemical substances into the wool to simplify care, but these release tiny plastic particles into the ocean when washed. Under the right conditions, however, wool products can indeed be sustainable.
When is virgin wool sustainable?
To minimize impact on the environment and conscience, the quality of the wool, the animal husbandry, and the production process are crucial. Pure virgin wool is not mixed with additional synthetic fibers or treated with chemical products. This makes the wool somewhat more expensive than many synthetic textiles, but every valuable natural product has its price. When buying, be sure to pay attention to the country of origin, as well as certifications or labels like "certified organic animal husbandry". Those willing to pay a bit more are not only doing themselves a favor but also the animals and the environment!
Washing virgin wool: what to keep in mind
Well, virgin wool does have a few demands in its handling. To ensure wool textiles retain their good qualities, a few things should be considered during cleaning . Here are some tips from us on how to do it best.
Cleaning virgin wool
The wool material basically requires little work because it hardly absorbs dirt and practically cleans itself. To freshen it up after some wear, simply let the wool air out a bit. It cleans best with increased humidity, such as after a rain shower. Instead of washing wool textiles, it is usually enough to air them out more often and take them outside!
If slippers, sweaters, or other textiles made of virgin wool do get dirty, the material should be handled as gently as possible . This means: best to wash by hand and avoid rubbing or scrubbing too hard. For cleaning, simply use a damp cloth or a special wool detergent.
No-gos in sheep wool care
Warning: The fabric felts easily in the washing machine, so it is not advisable,
Washing wool in the washing machine. If it cannot be avoided, definitely avoid high temperatures, fabric softeners, or spin cycles. Wool fabrics should never see the inside of a dryer.
After washing, you should also not treat the wool too roughly.
Therefore: do not wring out, but simply press out in a terry cloth and then let dry in the air . This way, wool products stay beautiful for a long time!
Tip: Not only people, but also moths love virgin wool fabric. As moth protection, we recommend hanging a little lavender in the closet or placing it next to the slippers.
If you choose virgin wool from organic animal husbandry for your slippers and clothing, you combine pleasant comfort with sustainability. Due to its temperature-regulating, breathable, and self-cleaning properties, the natural material is warming, hygienic, and also easy to care for. With slippers made of virgin wool, you can trust in the best quality and cozy comfort!
