The Vegan Society (UK) has already written an article about how wool is obtained from sheep and the injuries and suffering that can occur in the process. So in my article, I am going to write about the places where you are most likely to find wool and tell you about some of the alternatives that vegans can use instead of woollen products.'Wool' is usually defined as the protective covering of the domesticated sheep. It's a soft, warm, light, elastic material which is made from the protein keratin and is in fact, the ideal material for keeping sheep warm and dry in the winter. However, because of its good insulating properties, wool is commonly used in the manufacture of many garments and household items and vegans, therefore, need to be vigilant when purchasing new items for their wardrobe or home. You should also be aware that certain other animal fibres can also be referred to as 'wool'. These animal fibres are obtained from goats, rabbits, vicuna, guanaco, llama, alpaca and camels and can be used alone or can be mixed in with sheep's wool in products. So keep a sharp look out for the words angora, kashmir (cashmere), mohair and shahtoosh, particularly on balls of yarn or on knitted garments and avoid items which contain these animal products.
Wool Alert!
You are most likely to find wool (or the other animal fibres mentioned above) in the following items:
- Clothes - Coats, skirts, jackets, suits and knitted items such as socks, hats, gloves, scarves and jumpers.
- Household Items - Blankets, carpets, rugs, upholstery and sometimes in pillows and mattress stuffing.
- In Craft Shops - Knitting/crocheting yarns, tapestry wool and in coloured felt squares.
- Felt - Felt is made from unspun wool and/or other natural or synthetic fibres which are subjected to moisture, heat, agitation and pressure so that the fibres matt together to form a dense cloth. Felt is used in the inking pads of automatic printers, in soundproofing materials, in hats and in the dampers on pianos and other musical instruments. It can also be used in packaging.
- Lanolin - Raw wool is covered with fat which is removed and purified to give the product lanolin. You will find lanolin in many pharmaceuticals (e g ointments), cosmetics (particularly in lipsticks and creams/lotions), printing inks, lubricating greases and varnishes.
Winter Warmers
As you can see, from the above list, wool is found in many places. So which products should vegans buy if they want to avoid wool? Fortunately, there are now many synthetic alternatives available and some natural fibres, such as cotton, can also be used instead of wool. I hope that you will find the following ideas useful, as vegans like sheep, need to be well insulated in the winter!
- Socks - It is usually fairly easy to purchase ordinary, wool-free socks from most department stores. Select socks labelled as cotton, elastane, nylon, acrylic, polyester or lycra and avoid any labelled 'wool rich' or 'wool blend'. Unfortunately, lamb's wool is often found in socks, too, Always check sock labels carefully as socks which appear to be synthetic can often contain small amounts of wool. Thick walking socks can be more difficult to obtain, as they commonly contain wool. If you are having trouble finding some, then you may be interested to know that Ethical Wares sells corn fibre light weight walking socks.
- Gloves - If you want a really thick, warm pair of non-wool gloves, then I would recommend ski gloves. Generally, made from polyester and/or nylon, ski gloves often have a thinsulate lining for extra warmth and are usually fairly waterproof, too. If you just want ordinary knitted gloves, then acrylic gloves are nearly as warm as woollen ones and are usually fairly easy to find. For cycling, I have a pair of knitted, acrylic, but thinsulate-lined gloves. These are warmer than ordinary knitted gloves and are ideal for cycling as they are thin enough to change gear easily but are warm enough to keep the frost off my hands! If you are feeling very rich, then some outdoor shops sell Sticky Windy Extremeties Clothing, Windstopper Fleece Gloves which are supposed to be suitable for walkers, joggers and cyclists.
- Hats/Scarves - you will find a good selection of warm, polyester hats and scarves in most clothing shops. Avoid felt hats (or those with felt trimmings) and of course fluffy angora hats.
- Jumpers - Acrylic jumpers are usually fairly warm and 100% Cotton jumpers are also fairly easy to find, if you prefer to wear natural materials. (Do read the labels carefully though, as I have found some silk mixed in with one cotton jumper.) Mohair is often used in jumpers and if a jumper looks 'fluffy' then it might well contain either angora or lambswool.
- Fleeces - Sheep aren't the only ones with fleeces, I have one too and I live in mine! Most fleeces are made from polyester and they can be really warm, so if you don't like jumpers then a fleece may be a possibility, instead. They are ideal for cycling, walking, sailing, especially if it's a little chilly. I even wear an old one indoors and save a fortune in heating bills!
- Slippers - Although I did not see any labelled as containing wool, quite a few of the slippers I examined looked as if they might contain wool. Slipper labelling isn't very clear and the upper fabric is frequently labelled as 'textile' without specifying what it is made from, so if you think that a pair of slippers may contain wool, then buy a different sort, instead or purchase some from a vegan company.
- Floor Coverings - Wool is commonly used in the manufacture of both carpets and rugs, so if you want to stop using wool, then really you need to look at alternative floor coverings, too. Many synthetic kinds of carpets are now available, if you desperately want carpets, but I personally do not like synthetic carpets as they are not as biodegradable as carpets which are made from natural materials, such as wool. Also, as my husband is asthmatic, we have been trying to replace some of our carpets (when they wear out) with other materials which do not produce as much dust. I have recently covered one floor with cork tiles, as cork is an excellent insulating material, is biodegradable and is produced sustainably without harm to the tree. Other alternatives to carpeting are quarry tiles, sisal, jute and coir matting, bare sanded floor boards, linoleum (made from powdered cork) and parquet flooring. All of these are natural, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic carpet which tends to be made from either polypropylene, nylon, polyester, or from a mixture of all of these materials. Do remember if you are replacing an old carpet, that if it is made from a natural material such as wool and isn't foam backed, then it is excellent for making new raised beds, or as a mulch in the garden/allotment. So, don't throw it away!
- Knitting Yarns - No need for vegans to give up knitting, if they want to avoid wool, as there are now many types of non-wool yarn available. Non-wool tapestry yarn is more difficult to find. However, I am told that it is possible to use non-wool knitting yarn for making tapestries instead and you could always take up cross stitch embroidery instead. DMC produce embroidery thread made from 100% cotton.
Other Related Websites
- The Vegan Society (UK) - Wool
- The Vegan Society (UK) - Don't Pull the Wool Over Your Eyes.