Whether it’s the chosen material for a fashion statement or something a little different to put around the home, woollen products are a go-to choice for many and there are some fantastic sustainable options out there too as the British Wool Shop has endeavoured to raise awareness about the more sustainable practices the come with many woollen products particularly in the UK – but there are also a number of surprising properties of wool that may not be all that well known.
Not just for the winter –
Woolly clothing is often associated with the colder months of the year as something to keep us warm, but woolly clothes need not only be used for the winter if the correct products are sought out. Bedouins in the desert have been known to wear thin woollen clothing as the breathable nature of the material helps to keep you cool and the characteristics of wool also mean sweat doesn’t weigh down insulation layers which is responsible for increasing the feeling of being warm too – seeking out some lightweight woollen clothing in the summer could be a fantastic way to stay cool. Visit here
Moisture wicking properties are great, too –
Whether for the winter or the summer, wool is also great for its moisture wicking properties that often aren’t all that well known too. Wool is great at retaining an ideal moisture balance and given it can soak up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet – this is why it makes such a great insulator when it’s cold, and becomes so breathable in the heat too, so whilst not entirely waterproof, the water resistance is fantastic and will wick up any additional moisture without feeling heavy or wet.
Wool is also very fire resistant –
Not that any of us will have had any need to toss something woollen into the fire, to stick with the current theme of unique and often unknown properties for wool, it’s also something that doesn’t burn particularly well for the same reasons as above – the ability to hold onto a balanced amount of moisture as well as having the breathable air pocket mean it isn’t very flammable and quite fire resistant too – another reason to wear in a number of different climates as it won’t easily catch on the camp fire.
These are just a few of the many fantastic properties with the material and shows why it has been used for so long from clothing to carpets to bedding and a whole host of other uses too.
