To Wool
Every October, Wool Month brings together brands, makers, retailers, farmers and wool enthusiasts to celebrate one of Britain’s most wonderful natural fibres. Run by British Wool, formerly the British Wool Marketing Board, who have been based in Bradford since 1967.
From fashion and knitwear to interiors, flooring, insulation and wellness products, Wool Month shines a spotlight on the versatility, sustainability and heritage of British wool; sharing stories, showcasing innovative products, highlighting British wool brands and celebrating the people behind the fibre.
Whether you’re discovering British wool for the first time or already a passionate supporter, Wool Month is an opportunity to explore why wool remains one of the world’s most valuable natural materials, celebrating the entire journey of wool, from British farms to finished products, showing the environmental, practical and economic benefits of supporting British wool. For more information, please click HERE.
To Read
One of the people I love on Substack is Anna Kilpatrick (@thejoyofenough) and she has written the “ultimate toolkit for embracing sustainable, second-hand living” Not Needing New. I love her ethos and anything that saves a few pennies is a bonus so by letting go of the constant need for more and sorting out wants from needs, Anna shows you how she was able to enrich her life with thrifty and sustainable living with tips like “practise admiring things without having to own them”.
Her practical guide offers advice on discovering your second-hand style, holidaying on a budget, and simple parenting. With inspiring tips, thought provoking exercises, and real-life solutions, Not Needing New can empower you to find joy, save money and live more sustainably by appreciating all you already have.
To Sweater
If you are inspired by the British Wool AND Anna Kilpatrick, retrouve´has a guide to where to buy second hand knitwear and what is worth investing in. I will always err towards cashmere, particularly on Vinted as I have picked up some bargains (M&S Autograph cashmere for £10!). While purple is on trend for this autumn, I love a grey cashmere sweater and have banned myself from buying anymore! It’s worth looking closely at the posts to check for holes, small ones can easily be darned but if a moth has had a banquet on the sweater, it may be too much to mend - and always, always check for the unmistakable signs that the sweater has been washed too hot and shrunk/felted - the easiest way to spot this is if the ribbing seems too big for the sweater as the body will shrink more than any ribbing.
Hope this keeps you warm this week and please let me know if you find any bargains on Vinted or Ebay (not as keen on Ebay). I will be off for a couple of weeks as am due a hip replacement next week but I shall be finding interesting things to tempt you with later in October. Have a good weekend, Charlotte