Scottish Wool Secures Official Origin Branding
Wool has become the newest product to receive official branding confirming its Scottish origin.
Joining established Scottish products such as whisky, lamb, and salmon, Scottish wool now features its own logo and certification designed to protect it from competition by cheaper and lower-quality fabrics.
This certification not only guarantees the wool's quality but also enables full traceability of the raw material back to its source.
As consumer demand shifts away from fast fashion towards garments that are longer-lasting and more sustainable, the appeal of Scottish wool is expected to increase.
Graham Clark from British Wool said: "We are finding more and more consumers are making considered purchases and want to know where the materials came from - that is why the Scottish wool logo is so important."
With over six million sheep raised on Scottish farms, the supply of fleeces has been abundant in recent years.
Although a traceability scheme was introduced two years ago to help manufacturers identify the origins of their raw materials, the new certification aims to provide consumers with similar assurances.
Mr Clark added: "Every single fleece that comes from a Scottish farm is hand-graded and logged so the wool can be traced back to exactly where it came from.
Scottish wool is a quality raw material and there is high demand from manufacturers and consumers here in the UK and overseas."
Expanding Uses of Scottish Wool
Beyond traditional knitwear, tartans, and tweeds, Scottish wool is gaining popularity in less conventional manufacturing sectors.
Joan Johnston, whose Elgin-based company Ava Innes produces luxury bedding, uses wool sourced from Cheviot sheep in the Borders for several products.
She said: "We feel Scottish wool has allowed us to devise the perfect pillow.
Wool is perfect for temperature regulation and is naturally breathable.
Cheviot wool, in particular, is layered which gives more support and the customer can adjust the pillow to be the perfect height for them."
Lochcarron of Scotland, a leading tartan manufacturer based in Selkirk, continues to import some raw materials such as Merino wool for its premium products but has significantly increased its use of locally sourced fleeces in recent years.
Marketing executive Candice Given said: "We work with many of the leading fashion houses and export products around the world, so the quality of raw materials is vitally important for us.
Having the Scottish wool certificate and logo allows us to promote where the raw materials came from and provide those quality assurances."
Growing Value of Scottish Wool for Farmers
Less than a decade ago, many sheep farmers were discarding fleeces due to low prices, but steady growth has made wool a more profitable byproduct.
Jim Robertson, chairman of British Wool and a farmer with approximately 1,000 sheep near Langholm, believes the Scottish origin guarantee will further benefit farmers.
He said: "There was a time when products made from wool were coarse and wasn't nice to wear next to the skin, but times have changed and modern manufacturing has made wool a really soft and comfortable material.
The price for fleeces is already at a 10-year high, and with demand increasing it can only continue going up."
