While PETA claims that shearing hurts the animal, this is an extreme outcome and generally happens if the animal isn’t given the proper time to recoup its fleece before the next shearing. Meaning, the animal is only harmed if the farm or shearer in question cares more about profit and the amount of wool than the animal itself. Otherwise, shearing is pain-free for the animal and necessary for maintaining the health of the flock. When sheep that are bred for wool don’t get sheared, their hair can get too long and start to trap debris, making the animal prone to illness. Traditionally, scouring is done with warm water, but some wool producers opt for using chemical additives to speed up the process. Next, the wool is “carded” to make sure all of its fibers are straight, elongated, and lying in the same direction. This can be done by hand or with a carding machine specifically designed for the task. Once carded, you’re left with what’s known as roving—wool that’s ready to be spun into yarn. After the wool yarn is created, the wool is ready to weave or knit into fabrics! Unfortunately, treating wool with chlorine involves using tons of water and electricity. The process also creates water runoff with concentrated amounts of adsorbable organohalogens (AOX) toxins, making it potentially harmful to the environment. Chlorine-treated wool is also known as washable wool. To avoid contributing to this environmentally taxing process, look for pure untreated wool, chlorine-free wool, or AOX-free wool. Overall, Artise considers wool a very sustainable fabric. She especially appreciates the fact that it’s a natural material that is compostable as long as it’s not chemically treated. And though the material is sustainable by nature, it can be treated with toxic chemicals. “If you’re interested or happen to like a particular brand, you need to take the time to find out where their wool is sourced,” starts Artise. Peek around a brand’s website to see how their animals were raised and how often they were shorn. Avoid companies that have been accused of mulesing, aka cutting crescent-shaped pieces of skin from the rear of the animal to prevent flies (and maggots) from creeping into the folds of its wool. It’s painful and harms the overall well-being of the animal. On the processing side, go with pure wool that has not been chlorine-treated (AOX-free). If you can’t find information about a company’s wool online, Artise recommends writing in to ask about it. With a unique view on life, she taps into her own experiences to guide folks to live life for themselves, empowering them to explore their inner wild and find their own way in adulthood. Her weekly newsletter is a tiny way she furthers her mission to hold space for the unfathomable, romantic, and messy parts of life that make it that much more beautiful.
