The Kind Life


It's starting to get chilly, so I thought it would be a good time to share this blog from the archives. If you're thinking of buying a new coat, be sure to read this first!

Where does wool come from? How do we get it? We just shave the sheep gently, right? And make them feel better in the heat? Uh no!!! Animals are cut and hurt in the process of collecting wool - there is nothing gentle about it. Then at the end, there isn't a retirement farm for these sheep. They are sent to slaughter.
 
According to PETA, a gruesome practice called “mulesing” is still inflicted on sheep in Australia, where millions of Merino sheep are raised. These sheep are bred to have wrinkly skin because that produces more wool. In the Australian heat, however, the excess wool causes sheep to die from heat exhaustion – but worse, for their wool to get infested with maggots, which literally eat them alive. Farmers’ solutions to this is to cut off chunks of skin from lambs (without anesthesia) so that the scarred flesh will deter maggots. However, the lambs’ wounds often become infected before they heal.
 
The good news is there are many alternatives to wool. Now, I know wool seems more environmentally friendly than say, vinyl. But consider how bad it is for the environment to raise these animals, and use all the resources and land it takes to feed them. Unless you rescued a bunch of sheep from a slaughter house, and live somewhere where in the summer they beg you to free them of the wool, and you gently take it off, and always treat the sheep with kindness and respect, I am not a fan. In order to collect wool in a kind way, you would not be able to run a business – it would have to be a sort of hippie side fun project. I’m not sure how many situations there are like that, but I can assure you that 100% of the wool you purchase in the store is not produced like that.
 
In winter, I do just fine – you can read about some awesome vegan winter clothes here. If you have wool already, use it and love it until it’s time to give it away or say goodbye to it. Just try not to support cruel practices by buying new wool. If you feel comfy in wool, get used wool – although I have to say it always made me itch! But if you are going to buy it, it’s better to get a used product.

Now I’m sure that there are some exceptions to all of this... I recently read about The North Circular, a company started by models Lily Cole and Katherine Poulton. The North Circular rescues sheep and works with grandmothers (literally!) to knit chic apparel and accessories. It sounds pretty decent, but again, this is not the wool that you purchase in any mainstream store. So if you find a story or situation that sounds really compassionate, then that might work for you. I’m usually pretty suspicious when I’m told that certain wool came from a good, cruelty free place... I always wonder, well what exactly happens to those sheep?  How are they sheared? Is this a business? I would need to fully research each situation that I hear about to make sure it seems kosher to me.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

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  • Categories: style , animals

I wantched the video thinking that it would leave me horrified. i was surprised that the sheep didn't seem to mind all that much when they were being sheared.  What did horrify me was reading what Alicia had to say about the way sheep are treated, especially the little ones.  :(  With that said, I do have a peacoat made of recycled wool, but my family knows that I will refuse gifts that are made of wool, leather, or other animal products.

totally sad when living things become products - it happens to us people too. I like the knit-for-brains link.

A company I support that does a chic series of Jackets is called Silvr Lining (http://silvrlining.com/index.htm)

They use a very resilient, cozy Ultrasuede as well as Organic Fleece and a Bamboo Velour Knit. Organic, Vegan, recycled, American Made & all brilliant substitutes for wool. (less itchy too)

Keep putting it out there! We'll get there.

In becoming vegan wool was the last thing I thought about.  I still wear wool because people know I love sweaters and they buy me lots of wool items.  I haven't even told people that I am opposed to wearing wool that comes from these places, as so many already think I am ridiculous in my practices.  Maybe it's time I speak up though...

I know - it's funny the social predicaments sometimes involed with being vegan or vegetarian. People can feel rejected or even offended by it - really strange. You could start with asking for used items first. The idea of being "green" seems a good avenue start. It has a little more cultural traction now- finally.

Good luck!

I try to avoid wool just like I try to avoid all animal products, but I find that especially in the winter this is the hardest one to avoid. I don't live in the US and in Europe we just don't have that many other options (most vegan clothing here looks really, really awful and I can't afford to ship everything from the US). I'm always looking for other options, though!

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  • Jill
  • Dec 2, 2011
  • 35

Hi Alicia,

I am a floor covering consultant in Los Angeles, and I happen to be vegan-- and I read this story and contacted my resource at Wools of New Zealand as this did not seem accurate to me. This is her responsonse.

Hi Jill,

I contacted our office in New Zealand and they sent me the following information in reference to you earlier email.

Some points to note:

Mulesing is not carried out on any New Zealand carpet-wool sheep, ever.

Sheep are not slaughtered after shearing. They live 7-10 years, longer in a farming-care situation than if they were left in the wild, due to better care and feed.

They are not hurt by the shearing process. The video on that web site has been speeded up to make it look rough. The sheep are very relaxed during shearing and do not struggle or fight, and show no stress after shearing.

New Zealand sheep are not shorn during the winter, when there is a risk that they would get too cold in the storms.

There are strong animal-welfare regulations in New Zealand which govern the treatment sheep and other farm animals receive.

http://www.woolsnz.com/

Thank you for sharing this - I've already cut out leather....and now I will also cut out wool -- It just means I will have to cut down on the shopping - not a bad thing =)!!

I love your blog and share all the information I can -- hopefully it will get some peoples attention!

I use wool in my upcycling, I make baby clothes from old adult jumpers, and there are so many thrown away it is shocking! I love it as a fabric but I am worried about this news and will definately get involved trying to find out more. I am all for getting good treatment for the animals rather than not using wool at all. I like the idea of using natural materials in a responsible way. If you have shrunk a jumper and can't wear it anymore it is your chance to upcycle it! Have a look at my blog for a guide how to turn an old jumper into a baby suit. x

minimagpie.com

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