We are delighted to introduce our latest member of the Piglet in Bed family: a collection of beautifully crafted, soft, woollen blankets made in Yorkshire in the north of England by one of the country’s oldest mills. These blankets come in six different patterns and colourways, purposely designed to complement our cotton and linen bedding. We are passionate about supporting local craftsmanship wherever we can. The talented people at Moon, the makers of the blankets, are here to tell us more about the process.
Please could you tell us a little about the history of the mill and what makes it so unique?
Ever since our establishment in 1837, bales of raw wool have been arriving at our mill's doorstep to begin the process of creating beautiful fabrics. We are now one of Great Britain's last remaining vertical woollen mills, meaning we are among a select few who continue to complete all processes from a single site. This allows us incredible versatility and the ability to control each process to meet our exacting standards.
Ochre Gingham Wool Blanket (left) and Botanical Green Gingham Wool Blanket (right)
You are a wonderful example on how to run a business as sustainably as possible. Could you tell us more about the steps you have taken to achieve this?
We make extra efforts to be a more sustainable business each and every day. Wool is of course a 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre, which when combined with our commitments to zero waste, recycling and solar energy, creates a product of the highest ethical quality. Some of the key initiatives that we have put in place are:
- Zero waste: this includes the capture and re-use of loose fibre during the making process to be recycled.
- Investment in energy efficient machinery
- The installation of over 300 solar panels, allowing areas of our mill to be fully self-sufficient.
- Our commitment to reducing single use plastics throughout the mill and dedication to recycling internally where possible.
Where do you source your wool? Is some wool considered better quality than others?
We source the finest quality wool predominantly from New Zealand and South Africa. We typically buy our annual requirements in January each year, timing our purchases with the start of shearing to ensure the best availability of quality wool. We insist on:
- Full traceability of each of our deliveries of wool.
- Best farming practices.
- No bleach be added to the wool and minimal detergents be used.
How have you seen the wool industry evolve over the years?
Manufacturers across the industry have seen significant changes in demand over the years. The introduction of plastic alternatives to natural fibres saw a rapid decline in the popularity of wool. However, as the world begins to see the need for a more sustainable future, many are starting to again see the real benefit of woollen products in terms of its quality, versatility and as a sustainable product. We are excited for what the future holds.
Finally, what are your three favourite things about wool?
Durability, sustainability and versatility!
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Moons for shedding light on the processes at their historical mill. To find out even more about how our wool blankets are made please take a look at this informative video.
Shop our wool blanket collection designed to complement our 100% natural linen and cotton bedding collections!
