Wool

Wool as clothing has excited for eons; from babylonian civilizations separating food sheep from wool sheep to the Romans who selectively bred sheep for superior wool and finally to the ascendency of fleece during the European middle age. Along with cotton, the Industrial Revolution took these textile cottage industries to factories. 

Wool has predominantly been used in utilitarian garments, particularly military uniforms and work wear. But wool's first fashion break came in the decade following the First World War when Coco Chanel reinvented the fashion rules and produced a dress from fine wool jersey. Since then, wool has always been used in fashion.

The end of the Second World War heralded another fashion revolution called 'The New Look'. It was launched by the House of Christian Dior, and used an extensive amount of wool designs as a backlash against the rations and shortages during WW2. In 1954, up and coming designer Yves Saint Laurent won first and third prizes in the dress category of the International Wool Secretariat competition in Paris while a youthful Karl Lagerfeld won first prize in the coat category. As a result, fashion history was made by these two winners and a judging panel which included Hubert de Givenchy and Pierre Balmain.

One of the most popular wools today, the merino is derived from valued sheep developed in Spain. After decades of protecting their Spanish lineage, they were introduced to Australia from the famed Royal Merino Flocks of Spain. Further selective breeding by Australian farmers soon produced the authentic Australian Merino with its even finer wool. We do have some really special Merino wool apparel at the Attic, take a look!