In celebration of October Wool Month
October 14, 2025
October marks Wool Month, a global initiative to celebrate this unique sustainable fibre, and its inherent natural, renewable, and biodegradable benefits, championed by The Campaign For Wool and British Wool.
October marks Wool Month, a global initiative to celebrate this unique sustainable fibre, and its inherent natural, renewable, and biodegradable benefits, championed by The Campaign For Wool and British Wool.
Wool is one of the main fabrics at the heart of our interior designs. We use premium wool fabrics from coarse British wools such as Romney British wool and Harris Tweed to ultrafine merino wools and wool sheers. Wool has many natural qualities, such as temperature control, moisture wicking, UV protection, odour, and flame resistance and most importantly it is a sustainable fibre, as it is biodegradable and renewable.
In this blog post, we will look at October Wool Month, why wool is so important and the science of using wool in our interior design projects.
What is October Wool Month?
October marks Wool Month, a national celebration of wool. The global initiative for Wool Month is led by the Campaign For Wool, to celebrate one of our most versatile, sustainable and enduring natural fibres.
Autumn, with its cooler months, and particularly the month of October, is ideal to raise awareness about wool and remind everyone of the many reasons to consider using wool in your interiors.
The month-long celebration highlights the natural benefits and wide-ranging uses of wool across the interiors, fashion, and construction industries, highlighting one of nature’s most sustainable and resilient fibres.
Wool Month is an initiative spearheaded by The Campaign For Wool and has become an annual event, under the patronage of His Majesty King Charles III. Wool month highlights this incredible fibre’s qualities and its importance for a sustainable future.
The Campaign For Wool is His Majesty King Charles III’s initiative during his time as The Prince of Wales in 2008. The Campaign for Wool was launched in 2010 to assist wool growers in their aim to challenge the use of toxic synthetic fibres, in interiors, fashion, and the building industries.
Over the past decade, His Majesty The King has visited many regions in the UK, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. The purpose of these visits is to collaborate with growers and to highlight the environmental and ecological benefits of wool in all industries.
Renewable, biodegradable and naturally breathable, wool fibres ensure greater longevity than any synthetic fibre alternative.
Helen Izzard is a Somerset based interior design studio, creating timeless, quietly elegant interiors. Our design philosophy is underpinned by our ethos of timelessness, quality, longevity, and craftsmanship. We are drawn to natural materials, which are inherently beautiful, practical and sustainable. Our speciality is bespoke curtains and blinds, using sustainable fabrics from UK independent fabric designers, alongside our Moorland Collection of Artisan British-Made Trimmings.
Why wool matters
So why does wool matter so much? Wool has been estimated to be used since 9000BC when wool was known to provide us with our first woollen clothing. There are records of rudimentary clothing and rough woven rugs made from wool as far back as 5000BC.
Plastics were first invented in 1907, followed by nylon in 1935, created by science and chemistry. Ironically, plastics were originally created to maintain the availability of natural resources, and yet in the 1970’s, was highlighted to be having a devastating effect on our planet. Now, we are in a world where 69% of global fibre production is made from synthetic oil-based materials. These materials will remain in landfill for many decades to come.
Wool is an underused and undervalued fibre. While wool is one of the best ecological and bio-degradable fibres, it remains a small percentage of the global fibre market. Wool production and use can be a circular natural resource system, in that as a naturally biodegradable fibre and can be returned to the earth. Wool is slowly proving to be one of the most important fibres in the textile industry towards creating a more sustainable industry.
When done well, the wool industry is naturally organic, focusing on animal welfare as a priority, and producing a circular system. As a designer who uses wool in my interior projects, these are all an incredibly important ethos of the suppliers I choose to work with.
Plastic and synthetic fibres require industrial processing to recycle, and they end up in landfill sites without breaking down. Wool, however, is a biodegradable, carbon neutral, and natural fibre.
Wool facts & the importance of using wool in interiors
It is important to remind ourselves of the invaluable and sustainable resource that using wool gives us in the textile industry and the construction industry.
- Wool is a 100% natural fibre.
- Wool is 100% renewable and each year, a new fleece is grown and then shorn for the welfare of the animal.
- Wool is a planet friendly fibre as it will not add to the growing landfill or add to ocean pollution.
- Wool is biodegradable and when left in soil, wool naturally biodegrades in a matter of a few months, naturally adding nutrients back into the soil.
- Wool fibres are naturally temperature regulating and will keep you warm or cool.
- Wool is strong and durable and can be bent up to 20.000 times without damaging the fibres.
- Wool has both antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties. Wool reduces dust particles and helps filter out VOCs which all benefit people with allergies and asthma.
- Wool is naturally breathable and provides comfort in our daily environments.
- Wool has a natural textural crimp which provides natural stretch and wrinkle resistance, allowing shape recovery and drape.
- Wool absorbs moisture and is known to absorb 30% of its weight in moisture before the fibres feel damp.
- Wool is naturally flame resistant, and has a high flame ignition temperature, between 570-600 degrees, whereas other fibres ignite between 200-300 degrees.
- Wool comes in many textures and types, from different breeds of sheep. Wool can be made into many different products, due to the differences in softness, thickness of fibre, length, and the individual wool resilience of each breed of sheep.
The science of using natural wool in our home
The properties of natural wool mean that it is an excellent choice for interiors and the home.as wool offers durability, comfort, and aesthetic appeal, it improves the atmospheric conditions of our home.
The connection between the quality of indoor air, and human wellbeing is undisputed. The World Health organisation (WHO) has highlighted the dangers associated with breathing toxic VOCs in our indoor air. In response, some industries have developed a wide range of air cleaning treatment products, which can remove chemical and biological indoor contaminants from air in our homes. However, these products are energy intensive, with a limited lifespan.
Wool absorbs and locks away pollutants such as VOCs from the air more rapidly than other materials. Studies have shown that common VOCs, which occur in the indoor environment can be absorbed and chemically bound by wool, improving the air quality we breathe indoors.
The benefits of wool are part of the reason that wool use in the home is extending beyond carpet, upholstery, insulation, and clothing, and is now available in bedding, acoustic surfaces, lighting, and technical products such as air filters.
Aside from wearing beautiful wool clothing, there are three key areas that wool can be used in our homes.
- Wool is naturally breathable and is often used as a natural insulator in our home. I have often seen it used successfully in the walls of bespoke shepherd huts and as loft insulation.
- Wool is a wonderful fibre for sleep. With an increasing awareness of the toxicity and dust from modern mattresses, there are a number of companies who make mattresses from natural fibres and wool in particular. Using wool in sleepwear, bedding and our mattresses will give you the best nights sleep as it regulates body temperature, making sure you are ever too hot or cold.
- Wool makes beautiful carpets and rugs. Carpets are long lasting and create a healthy environment by reducing VOCs, dust and noise.
Moorland Collection of Wool & Cotton Onion Tassel Trimmings
Discover our beautifully classic onion tassel trimmings, created with an earthy palette inspired by the colours and landscapes of Somerset, the place where we live.
The collection of wool and cotton onion tassel trimmings marks a celebration of British design and manufacturing, and classically timeless trimmings. We took a thoughtful & considered approach to selecting the finest natural yarns, to create a bespoke collection that we feel will stand the test of time.
With a commitment to sourcing locally and sustainably by supporting British manufacturing, our trims are entirely and exclusively handmade for us in the UK, using the finest natural wool and cotton yarns.
Our onion tassel trimmings are also known as ‘Pushed-up’ Onion Tassels, similar to pom pom trimmings in style, but designed to be elegant and timeless. By choosing a multi-tonal wool palette for the tassels, we were able to create a trimming with depth and tone.
We intentionally chose pure wool for this very English trimmings collection. We added a little cotton in to the braid to create a wonderful textured tape, which can be used as a decorative feature braid. Tassel and pom pom trimmings are stylish additions to any soft furnishings, especially the leading edges of curtains, the edges of cushions or pelmets, as well as the lower edges of roman blinds, adding understated elegance, colour and texture.
As a designer, I love using natural wool fabrics in my work, alongside natural linen too. Both fibres have their own characteristics and shape the work and designs which I create. They have a softness and movement that synthetic fibres simply do not have, and from an aesthetic perspective, they add texture and flow to a pair of curtains or roman blind. It is also important to consider how they feel too, and there is nothing more inviting than how a wool curtain feels to the touch.
Have you also seen our Moorland Collection of Trimmings? They are hand crafted in the UK using only natural cottons and wool yarns. We also offer a bespoke colour service if you would like a specific colour to match your project. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your project.
