Organic Wool Clothing

Wearing organic wool clothing is a great way to support ethical treatment of animals while also avoiding contact with harmful chemicals and pesticides. Only sheep raised to meet certain standards can be certified as organic. This generally requires that only natural food is given to the sheep and that no inhumane practices are followed when raising the animals.

Organic wool clothing: How it becomes certified

To qualify their livestock as organic, ranchers must follow ethical practices that ensure the animal's health and safety. This can include avoiding the common practice of mulesing, or removing the wool and skin from around the sheep's backside to ward off problems with fly-strike. Organic livestock producers must also demonstrate that they have not overpopulated their land with animals. Another common animal management technique that is not allowed in producing organic wool is the dipping of the sheep in pesticides or other chemicals designed to prevent parasites.

Organic wool clothing: Safer than commercial wool

Organic wool clothing is not only safer for the sheep, but it may also be safer for the humans who wear the clothing. Organic wool is not subject to the same level of pesticides and other harmful chemicals that regular commercial wool may be. This can be especially important for people with allergies or medical conditions making them sensitive to chemical exposure. Because of this eco-friendly and non-toxic appeal, demand for organic wool has grown in recent years and producers are struggling to keep up.

Organic wool clothing: Higher costs

The result of this high demand for organic wool clothing is that it may be more expensive than regular wool. It is not just the supply-demand discrepancy that causes the high price. It simply costs more to produce certified organic wool than regular, uncertified wool. Part of the reason the unsafe and inhumane practices have become so common is that they are cheaper for the livestock producers. Using only organic-approved procedures requires more time and labor costs, along with fees for the official certification as organic wool. The limits on how many sheep can graze on a set area of land also raises the livestock producer's cost.

Organic wool clothing: Where to purchase

You can buy premade organic wool clothing or knit your own with specially designated wool. These days, certified organic wool is available in most decent-sized yarn stores. If you are unable to find organic wool in your area, it can always be ordered online and delivered almost anywhere. For those who do not wish to make their own garments, there are several eco-friendly fashion designers now selling organic wool clothing.