Why Wool?
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
Winter is my second favorite season, after Fall of course. I love the chill-inspired layers, dreary days inside by the fire, endless cups of hot coffee, and cozy slippers to warm up chilly toes.
Winter is the season of my second favorite holiday (Christmas, of course), the beginning of a new year. I'll never tire of the way a fresh dusting of snow seems to bring fresh hope and life to the day.
But, winter is also harsh. Especially in Colorado. And after growing up in "the icebox of the nation" (no, really, Google it), I've learned a few tricks for staying warm without sacrificing personal style. One of them is stocking up on wool.
Wool has a reputation for itchy stiffness. It's the fiber your grandma used to knit that itchy scarf for you, right? So you steer clear of it, unaware of its hidden potential.
Believe it or not, wool is not only one of the most sustainable and (when done correctly) comfortable and eco-friendly fabrics out there. I'll tell you a little bit about it, and then link to a few of my favorite wool products I've acquired over the long, harsh winters ;)
Wool > Synthetic Fibers
As a general rule of thumb, natural fibers beat man-made ones every time. Although wool can have a similar feel to other knits, like acrylic, that can be made in a factory, the reality is that these are usually made with plastics and chemicals, which, of course, are not only harmful to produce, but awful for your skin.
Wool, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring fiber, that doesn't require chemicals or alteration to produce.
It's more breathable than cotton, yet warmer than fleece
Wool is a bit of an enigma. It absorbs moisture and also regulates temperature meaning it's warming AND cooling at the same time. It also contains lanolin, a property that makes it waterproof.
It's sustainable to produce
Sheep are sheared at least once per year and will continue producing wool their entire life. When buying wool, look for "non-mulesed" wool, which ensures that the sheep was treated humanely during its shearing. Normally, shearing is just like getting a haircut, the sheep won't feel a thing. Wool is also biodegradable and compostable.
Still think wool is just your grandma's fabric?
Think again.
Here are a few of my favorite wool products that I use in my day to day life:
- My Equal Uprise fedora (pictured above)
- My Baabuk slippers (everyone in my little family has a pair and we all LOVE them. Our feet never get sweaty and always stay warm ;) See my blog post here).
- My Toad & Co. Tupelo Sweater (Pictured above)
*This informational post was sponsored by Baabuk as part of an ambassadorship and on going partnership. All words and creative direction was my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep this little blog running!*
