Prince Charles launches project to promote benefits of wool (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Prince Charles launches project to promote benefits of wool

12:18pm Friday 5th February 2010

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THE Prince of Wales has launched his own initiative to promote the virtues and benefits of using wool.

The Wool Project aims to bring the natural and sustainable attributes of wool to the attention of textile buyers, retailers and ultimately the consumer.

The idea grew out of discussions with tenants on his own estate who spoke of the poor returns they receive for fleeces.

More than 130 wool merchants, scourers, spinners, weavers, manufacturers and major retailers and designers attended the launch at Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire.

Apart from home support the wool growing organisations in Australia and New Zealand are also backing the initiative.

Prince Charles explained that while wool had long supplied the carpet and upholstery industries, competition from man-made fibres had hit the price of wool worldwide.

It meant sheep farmers often made little or no money from their wool. He said: “The sad truth is that around the world farmers are leaving sheep production because the price they get for their wool is below the costs of actually shearing it.”

The Prince said many people did not understand the natural benefits of wool or its environmental advantages over nylon or polypropylene.

He encouraged people to by Mike Bridgen mike.bridgen@dst.co.uk think twice about “the seemingly trivial decision about whether to buy a wool carpet or its manmade alternative, or the decision to buy a wool coat as opposed to a polyester jacket”.

He also highlighted the fire safety aspect of wool – wellknown to the contract and hospitality industry, where wool is considered the safest fibre for carpet owing to its high ignition rate (600 degrees) and its natural flame retardant qualities.

Nicholas Coleridge, managing director of Conde Nast, the global publishing company behind titles such as Vogue, is a Wool Project member.

He said they aim to “thrust wool into the public consciousness”

and announced plans for a major Wool Week in September when retailers will promote wool in-store backed by a publicity campaign.

Ian Hartley, chief executive of the British Wool Marketing Board, said: “Wool clearly needs to be better understood, regardless of its brand or origin – wool prices have suffered globally not just in one area. This is an excellent opportunity for wool and we are delighted about it.”

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