Prince Charles visits Bradford to promote wool industry

The Prince of Wales has visited Bradford as part of a campaign to champion the wool industry. The prince, who is patron of the Campaign for Wool, met with farmers and representatives from the industry. The campaign involves groups from across the wool sector working together to improve public awareness of the benefits of the sustainable product. The prince also carried out other engagements in the city, including a visit to Belle Vue Girls’ School.

During his time in the city, the prince visited Haworth Scouring Company. Its managing director Martin Curtis said the firm was thrilled when it heard news of the visit.

“Of course it was an absolute joy that the future king of England is taking such a direct interest in the wool industry and what we do with it. This is good for the industry, good for wool traders around the country.”

At Belle Vue Girls’ School the prince met students, including some taking part in the Mosaic mentoring initiative where young Muslims are matched with volunteer mentors. The group was founded by the prince and convened in 2007 by Business in the Community, one of the prince’s charities, to challenge the growing concern around the issues facing young Muslims living in deprived areas of Britain.

From BBC News – 23/11/10

The Wool Room CEO Jo H Dawson with HRH Prince Charles

 

Marc Jacobs, Stubbs & Wootton Work With Wool

American designer Marc Jacobs has recently collaborated with footwear makers Stubbs & Wootton to produce a line of wool slippers incorporating Jacobs’ signature ‘Stinky Rat’ brand for the young men of fashion.

Jacobs’ playful, hedonistic design aesthetic provides a perfect contrast to the blue-blood brand of Stubbs & Wooton. The Stinky Rat slipper series is a quirky addition to what some fans consider passé items of clothing.
Tell us what you think, or send us pictures of your favourite wool slippers!

Lord of the Rings Sheep Homes

The idyllic countryside of New Zealand was an amazing backdrop for one of the most successful films ever- Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. Many of the sets for the trilogy were created specifically for the film, and were then dismantled after filming. However one set, the Hobbit village of Hobbiton, remained. The rolling countryside of Matamata, Hamilton NZ so closely resembled that of J.R.R Tolkein’s description of Middle Earth, film producers adapted Alexander Farm to become Hobbiton, including 37 tiny hobbit houses tucked into the hillside.

Today there are still 17 of these houses on Alexander Farm, but they are now home to a flock of Lincoln sheep! The hobbits in Tolkein’s fantasy had a deep connection with nature and farming and natural products and so here at The Wool Room we connect with this passion, and think these Hobbitats are fantastic! Like wool, these homes will be warm in winter and cool in summer- their sheep inhabitants would be brilliant advocates for The Wool Room!

Spring Court Wool Sneakers

French footware label Spring Court (www.springcourt.fr) have released a very bold, exciting version of their classic B1 Mid-Top Sneaker. Featuring Nordic wool, patterned with snowflakes in a variety of striking colours, these sneakers are sure to be a hit for Spring Court this winter. Here at The Wool Room we think they could be worn by either sex, paired with a lumberjack shirt or merino cardigan. Alternatively, they match one of our new blankets perfectly- take a look here – http://www.thewoolroom.com/prods/wool-blanket-grey-snow-blanket.html