prestigefibres

Natural animal fibres and yarns

British Wools

Background Information

 

Britain began its domestic sheep and wool production in Roman times, 2000 years ago. The wool industry has been an important economic base for the United Kingdom ever since. The industry reached its high point in the 19th century with the dawn of the industrial revolution. The wool textile industry mainly concentrated within the region of Yorkshire became the international centre for all wool origins until well into the 20th century. In recent years there has been a dramatic decline in processing within the UK as other producing countries have developed direct sales to the final consumer markets and introduced their own production expertise. However, within the UK the native production of wool on the part of around 100,000 sheep farms gives rise to a diverse and interesting number of speciality types of wool unique to the United Kingdom. The industry remaining in the UK is now heavily involved in the process or part process of these materials.

 

Although the greater part of the British Wool clip is used for carpet production having a strong and resilient character most suitable for use within the carpet industry, a proportion of the clip in the form of several speciality breeds have unique use within the bedding, knitting and weaving sector. Whilst cross breeding occurs in order to satisfy the commercial needs of the farming industry, pure breeds still thrive.

 

Prestige Fibres concentrates its efforts on several of these speciality breeds and provide these for sale in scoured (washed), combed (top) or yarn form.

 

 

Bluefaced Leicester

The Bluefaced Leicester is one of the finest commercial British Wools and is very unique in terms of brightness and handle. Found in Northern England, Scotland and Wales. The breed is particularly suitable for blending with finer Mohair and Alpaca being most similar in characteristic to these materials. The fineness ranges from 26 to 28 microns, the fibre length averages 4".

 

 

Pure Shetland Island Wool

The true Shetland breed has been used for generations in the Shetland Islands in the production of the genuine and original Shetland Knitwear. Many substitutes and imitations exist but the true Shetland breed owes its origins in Scandinavia and has an extremely soft handle and whiteness. Whilst traditionally used in woollen yarn production Prestige Fibres also produce worsted tops and yarn as well as scoured wool for woollen production. The fineness ranges from 28 to 30 microns the average fibre length is 3 to 4".