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considered the so-called ‘superior choice’? This comes down to the structure and what lies within. The industry refers to real wool as ‘active’ and non-wool that is manmade/ synthetic fibres, as ‘passive’. You may wonder what this means, but it simply means that manmade is non-responsive to the environment while real wool is a naturally ‘smart’ fibre and will physically respond and perform on many levels from its time on the sheep throughout its journey in textiles and beyond.


The cell-based structure of wool is really quite complex and comprises of many layers; all of which add value to its performance. At the core is a spring like strength - that effectively consists of two countering forces twisted together to resist each other - forcing against compression and this is why wool can last so long without losing its appearance.


Looking at the fibre, you can tell nothing of its complex functionality. The way wool breathes adds comfort and it adjusts to the wearer or the space itself by absorbing humidity in through the outer membrane in to its cell structure. This will then be released later, so wool ensures you are never too hot or too cold.


It also


captures dust particles to filter the air and significantly improve air quality.


Strong and durable and yet still soft and luxurious, wool has immense ability to maintain its natural shape. The aforementioned coiled crimp is so bouncy that it will resist extensive footfall. Other ‘smart attributes’ are its resistance to flame due to a high water and nitrogen content. Fire simply struggles to get going on wool and will largely self-extinguish. This, added to its natural resilience, is why hotels, casinos and public buildings preference it.


British Wool measures up very well in the world of natural fibres. It is a fully sustainable renewable fibre - grown on over 60 different breeds of sheep on 40,000 plus farms in the UK. The fleece is shorn annually and the wool will be made available to the global textile industry over the next year. So, there is always a fresh supply of wool coming through - eco perfection.


In the fast-paced world we live in, wool remains a simple choice but still a very, very good one.


www.britishwool.org.uk twitter.com/TContractFloors NATURAL MATERIALS | 43


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