Wool is a "Princely" commodity (From Smallholder)

Wool is a "Princely" commodity

8:20am Wednesday 7th July 2010 in

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News that HRH The Prince of Wales has officially become Patron of the Campaign for Wool has been described as ‘the best thing that has happened to the wool industry for many years’ by Ian Hartley CEO of the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB).

The Prince announced his official commitment to the sheep farmer and wool textile industry at a small gathering of the farming, wool textile and retail sectors at the National Woollen Museum in Llandysul, (Dyfed) Wales on the 28th June 2010.

Referring to the many fantastic attributes of wool, he commented that his growing understanding of the fibre’s many naturally ‘smart’ attributes had only served to prove that wool should be better appreciated by everyone and was delighted that so many designers and major names had put their strength behind it.

John Thorley, Chairman of the Campaign for Wool, gave a campaign progress report to the attendees, “We have achieved an enormous amount already on this campaign – with many major retailers signed up for a high street retailer led event - Wool Week in October (11th-17th). This effort to bring wool to the forefront is a really concerted effort by wool organisations, manufacturers, industry organisations and the retail world. The Prince has been brilliant at uniting so many people to make this happen and there are many good things going on at different levels around the world, making this a truly global effort.” The BWMB, which represents 50,000 wool producers in the UK has put significant funding in to the CfW and has played a major role in bringing wool and textile partners to the table and helping to set a framework for mapping a change in wool’s fortunes in the years to come.

Ian Hartley CEO at the BWMB explained, “Our sheep farmers and our textile industry already know that wool is a quality fibre for fashion and interiors. It is the retailer and consumer that need to realise that wool rich products have added value, they offer natural sustainability and durability and that is why a profile building campaign is so important. We hope that we can bring a sea change to the mindset of consumers so that wool is understood, appreciated and properly valued. Ultimately the retail price must allows for more acceptable margins in the upward chain and through to the producer.

“Our producers firmly believe that the time is right for wool as the environmental agenda rises and people become more conscious that their choices have an impact on the world we live in. The Prince with his serious interest in these issues is the perfect Patron for the Campaign and we believe this unified effort can make a long lasting difference throughout the wool business.”