In today Plastic filled word many people are asking how they can make a difference. The textiles industry is one of the biggest polluters with plastic derivatives in many of its products which intern produce micro plastic into the waterways through our washing processes.

Spinning Earth Wool is a mini mill project that has been set up on the North downs in Kent, in collaboration with Wye Community Farm. The aim is to turn rare breed fleeces into usable fabrics that have a commercial value. The aspiration of this are multi layered:

1) To provide local employment in the rural economy

2)To provide in our own small way an natural alternative to plastics in textiles

3)To support and encourage small holders with rare breed sheep as these are the ones often attributed with interesting fiber. the genetics of which we need to grow in order to fulfil demand for natural alternative as we move away from plastics.

4)To make use of a valuable natural resource that is costing more to shear off the sheep for welfare than the money gained for it which often results in it being burnt!

5) To practice and pass on traditional skills, translating them for the modern world and encouraging creative process and new products in the British Fashion and interiors world.

So far we have taken on a building and made it textile compatible via a grant. we have knitting machines and some wool washing and combing equipment along with a number of spinning wheels which we run courses with. In order to process a larger volume of fleece we would like to buy a needle felting loom. Please watch the link video below which explains what this is and how transformative it will be to our processes, giving us the ability to diversify the product we can tailor from our wool and being able to provide a service of making felt yardage for farmers who then want to create their own products. This will make us different from other mini mills which provide the service of making wool into yarn

Feltloom

feltloom website