Making Things That Last
Anna Wheeler ~ Founder and Designer
In life and business, I strive to be as sustainable as possible and enjoy thinking about ways I can achieve this, it shapes every prosses and decision I make. It isn't a policy, it’s how I want to work and live.
i. Why it matters to me
I grew up in the English countryside, surrounded by things that were made to last. Old tools in my grandmother's shed, woollen blankets that had been in the family for decades, still soft and beautiful worn. A garden tended over generations. Not overly manicured, but vibrant, full of plants that seeded themselves and grew in unexpected combinations, I think that upbringing gave me an understanding of things made with care from real materials were worth holding on to and repairing and this made me cherish them even more.
When I started Cotswold Knit, the choice to work with natural fibres just felt right. Not just ethically, though that matters enormously to me, but creatively and practically too. For me natural fibres hold colour so well and have a credible and nostalgic feeling to them. They also wear and age better too.
ii. What makes lambswool worth choosing
Just over half the items I design and make are created using lambswool, and there’s a reason why I keep coming back to it. Our Geelong lambswool comes from the very first shearing of a young sheep, before seven months old, when the fleece is at its finest and softest. It has a natural elasticity that gives it body and bounce. It is warm without being heavy, it breathes in a way that synthetic fibres simply cannot replicate; adjusting to your body temperature through the day. Many customers say its comparable to cashmere for its softness.
A well-cared-for lambswool piece will be with you for years. It holds its shape, its colour, its softness and gets better with age. This is what I mean when I talk about making things that last. The lambswool accessories I make are not seasonal purchases, they are items you can wear for decades.
iii. Where our wool comes from
Every yarn we use at Cotswold Knit is certified by the Responsible Wool Standard. This is an incredibly important standard in our industry and it’s important to understand what that actually means.
The RWS ensures that wool comes from farms with genuinely progressive land management practices, and from sheep that have been treated responsibly throughout their lives. Mulesing is a practice I find deeply troubling, and it is still common in parts of the global wool industry. Under the RWS, it is strictly prohibited. Animal welfare is assessed against real standards, not self-reported. There are actually five set out responsibilities towards the animals that the RWS uphold.
- -Freedom from hunger and thirst - access to fresh water and a diet that maintains health and vigour
- -Freedom from discomfort - appropriate shelter and a comfortable resting environment
- -Freedom from pain, injury or disease - prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
- -Freedom to express normal behaviour - sufficient space, proper facilities and company of their own kind
- -Freedom from fear and distress - conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering
Our lambswool yarn comes from Todd and Duncan, a Scottish spinner on the banks of Loch Leven with over 150 years of experience. The fleeces are washed, spun and dyed there in Scotland. The water used in the process is cleaned and returned to the loch. These details matter to me knowing the story and understanding the process the yarn goes through is an important part of the selection process.
iv. Other yarns we love to use
Our beautiful statement scarves use a fine bouclé yarn which gives the design a unique fluffy texture. Bouclé yarn is made using a highly specialised spinning technique that creates distinctive tiny loops and curls, when knitted this gives the fabric its rich texture, softness and bounce.
This Boucle yarn is very fine, it has a small amount of nylon thread running through it for structural strength and to keep the loops in place during knitting. I knit this with a merino yarn within my jacquard patterns, both yarns work so well together. I love the combination of smooth merino with fluffy bouclé; it gives an unusual embossed texture.
v. The women I make for
When I think about who wears Cotswold Knit, my customers understand the value of buying well and buying less. choosing quality over quantity, building a wardrobe slowly and thoughtfully around investment pieces that last. Women who have decided that they don't want to participate in the cycle of buying and discarding, who are part of a growing slow fashion movement in the UK and looking for pieces that will grow with them rather than date.
What these women share is that they care about design and authenticity. They want to feel put together and comfortable at the same time. They notice craftsmanship and detail. They want to understand how an item is made and the story behind it.
At Cotswold Knit we have a story to tell and I want our customers to come along on the journey with us, the process, the care we take, the details...all of it is visible, tangible and very real. I believe this is something you can feel the moment you pick up one of our pieces.