A Bit About the Wool
Organic wool is a very important ingredient in the natural mattress “recipe”. The unique structure of the wool fiber makes it both breathable and moisture wicking. Thus, the wool layer effectively removes excess moisture and dissipates excess heat, allowing you to sleep in dry and hygienic comfort year-round. These properties explain why wool is a preferred material for hiking socks and other high-performance technical apparel. A mattress’s wool layer also acts as a flame barrier, allowing the mattress to comply with fire-resistance regulations naturally!
It’s environmentally friendly...
Wool is a renewable resource that can be shorn from sheep annually, and is imperative for their health. It is biodegradable and kinder to the environment than oil-based synthetics, which contribute to global pollution. Sustainably sourced wool from free-grazing sheep are treated ethically throughout their long lives, and represent a traditional small-scale industry that once thrived in America. Today, many small organic farmers around the world are returning to this sustainable industry to create clean and healthy wool that is produced without stress to the animals or the environment.
It’s a fire retardant...
Wool's natural fire resistance stems from its high nitrogen and water content, which means it requires more oxygen in the surrounding environment to burn. If exposed to a sufficiently high heat source, wool can be lit, however it does not normally hold flame and will instead smoulder for a brief period. Furthermore, when heated to the point of combustion, wool's cross-linked cell membrane structure swells, providing an insulating layer that hinders flame spread. This also means that wool emits less smoke and hazardous gas than synthetic fibres which can ignite easily, burn fiercely and melt.
Wool is durable...
Laboratory tests have shown that wool fibers resist tearing and can bend back on themselves more than 20000 times without breaking. Cotton breaks after 3200 bends, silk fibers break after 1800 bends, and rayon fibers break after just 75 bends. Wool clothing and bedding will last for years as it naturally resists spills, dries very quickly and is mildew resistant. Keep in mind that wool that's been treated with chemicals or dyes will loose it's integrity, resulting in a scratchy and rough texture. Organic is always best.
Built-in climate control...
Wool is a natural insulator to keep you warm in winter and naturally breathable to keep you cool in summer. When used in blankets, synthetic fibers, down and even cotton fibers do not breathe as well as wool, and are more likely to trap heat in your bed. As body temperature increases, wool transfers both moisture and heat along its fiber and simultaneously releases it into the drier and cooler environment. Also, when temperatures cool down, it can retain heat and offer a snug and cozy material upon which to sleep. Did you know wool fabrics can also absorb up to 30% of their weight without feeling heavy or damp?
It resists...
Wool’s natural resistance to mildew and mould comes from the way it repels moisture, and lets moisture pass through its fibers without holding the moisture. Mildew and mould require moisture to live and grow. Dust mites are arthropods that thrive in dark and damp places and are primary instigators of asthma and allergies. Wool, on the other hand, does not hold moisture making it too dry for these allergens to survive. This is why wool bedding is the ideal choice for homeowners with allergic tendencies.
Our sourcing story...
The wool used in our duvets, pillows and mattresses come from a remote region of Tierra Del Fuego in Patagonia.
The sheep are bred carefully and live a stress-free life, the Estencia (farms) are very large, 50km x 50km, this means that they only encounter humans twice a year, once to do the de-worming and once to get hand sheered.
The climate in Patagonia is very dry, filled with short grubs and rocks. Because of this climate, no agriculture has ever grown on this land, leaving the soil pure and organic. The temperature ranges between 8C and 25C, keeping their furs thick all year round.
The type of sheep is called Corriedale, they provide wool that is denser, more resilient to its shape and that has a rough finish. All these properties are excellent for mattresses, pillows and duvets.