Here at Odd, September means one thing: the arrival of the annual Wool Week! Shetland Wool Week is a world-famous and highly-renowned celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry, and the rural farming community based on these islands. 

Without these incredible people (and animals!) our beds wouldn’t be anywhere near as wonderful. Read on to find out more about our wool, how and why we use it, and  – of course –  the animals who fleece help to keep our customers snug!

 

Why Use Wool As A Natural Mattress Filling?

Wool is a longstanding (and hardworking!) partner in our quest to create the the most comfortable mattresses around. We work hard to source natural fillings for our mattresses which are hypoallergenic, biodegradable and super soft – and wool is a fillings which meets all these criteria, helping to create a surface for perfect sleep night after night, all year round. 

At Odd, we use two different types of wool – lambswool, which comes from a sheep’s first shearing, and cashmere which is the wool of a Kashmir goat.  Each of these types of wool has a different texture, and as they hail from animals who evolved and were reared in different environments also have unique characteristics. Let’s take a look at how these wool types are perfect for our use:

Lambswool

As you might know if you’ve ever visited a farm or a petting zoo, lambswool is one of the softest types of wool, as it is shorter, finer, and smoother than sheep’s wool. This means that it doesn’t need as much processing and its fibres therefore retain there natural structure, making it better for both you and the planet. 

It’s a soft and lightweight choice of mattress filling which is very breathable, allowing it to store warmth in winter and regulate heat in summer. Lambswool is also hypoallergenic, meaning that a sleeper won’t be affected by sniffles or coughs at night – which is why a lambswool mattress is ideal for children or people with allergies.

 

Cashmere

Cashmere is another type of wool, which comes from the coats of Kashmir goats. Cashmere is governed to strict standards to ensure that the quality of labelled products is consistent, this includes that the average diameter of fibres is not allowed to exceed 19 microns!

Cashmere is known for its extreme softness, warmth, and smoothness, and has been a highly-prized and coveted material for centuries. This makes it the perfect natural mattress filling, that provides the ultimate in luxury and comfort. Like lambswool, cashmere is hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites and breathable.

 

How We Choose Our Natural Mattress Fillings:

We proudly make our mattresses here in the UK using techniques and materials which limit our impact on the planet and result in products which comprise of materials and fillings which originate from the British Isles, and are fully recyclable.

By choosing a mattress which uses UK wool to create a  deep, comfortable sleeping surface, we’re making sure our mattresses don’t just feel good – they do good, too. (For more on ways we’re keeping our beds sustainable, check out our latest blog.) 

We don’t just use wool in our mattresses – our bespoke mattress options mean that you can select from a huge range of natural fillings including curled horsehair and natural cotton, in addition to cashmere and lambswool.

Shetland Wool Week

In the words of Shetland Wool themselves:

‘Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands. Shetland wool is a world class natural fibre, with a long standing reputation for quality, strength and excellence from the fleece to the textile products. Shetland knitwear has a deserved respect gained from many generations of hard working knitters and crofters producing some of the finest lace and Fair Isle knitwear.’

We’re proud to be supporting all those who are involved in the rearing, production and trade in Shetland wool. The inaugural Wool Week has grown since its conception twelve years ago, into an internationally-acclaimed event including classes and exhibitions on weaving, spinning, dyeing, Fair Isle and lace knitting as well as many other amazing processes!

The events will take place from the most southern tip of the Shetland to the most northerly island of Unst – offering you the chance to learn about this incredible material in a show stopping environment. What’s more, each event will take place with the breath taking Shetland scenery as a backdrop, helping to make it a week that won’t be easily forgotten. 

To learn more about Wool Week, and the amazing work of all those involved in Shetland Wool production, you can visit their website here.