If you are in woolen garments business, you might have come across the term "virgin wool" and wondered what it means. Is it different from recycled wool? Is it better or worse? How can you tell the difference? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more.
What is virgin wool?
Virgin wool is wool that has not been processed, reused or blended with other fibers before. It is also sometimes called "new wool" to distinguish it from recycled wool. Virgin wool comes from sheep that have been shorn for the first time, or from older sheep whose wool has not been used before. Virgin wool is usually softer, finer and more durable than recycled wool.
What is recycled wool?
Recycled wool is wool that has been reclaimed from old garments, scraps or other sources and spun into new yarn. Recycled wool may also contain other fibers, such as cotton, polyester or nylon, to improve its strength or appearance. Recycled wool is more environmentally friendly than virgin wool, as it reduces waste and saves energy and water. However, recycled wool may also be lower in quality, as it may lose some of its natural properties, such as elasticity, loft and warmth.
How to tell the difference between virgin wool and other wool?
One way to tell the difference between virgin wool and other wool is to look at the label. If the fabric consists exclusively of sheep’s wool, the term "100%", "pure" or "whole" is often added. If the fabric contains virgin wool, it should be labeled as such. If the fabric contains recycled wool, it may be labeled as "reclaimed", "reprocessed" or "reused" wool.
Another way to tell the difference between virgin wool and other wool is to feel the texture. Virgin wool tends to be softer, smoother and more uniform than recycled wool. Recycled wool may feel rougher, coarser and more irregular than virgin wool. Recycled wool may also have more pilling, fading or shrinking than virgin wool.
Which one should you choose?
Well, it depends on your personal preference and the purpose of your clothing. Virgin wool is more suitable for fine and delicate items that need to last a long time and look elegant. Recycled wool is more suitable for casual and rugged items that need to keep you warm and cozy. Both types of wool have their advantages and disadvantages, so you can mix and match them according to your needs.
One thing to keep in mind is the environmental impact of your choice. Virgin wool requires more resources and energy to produce than recycled wool, as it involves raising sheep, shearing them, cleaning and spinning the wool. Recycled wool reduces waste and saves resources and energy by reusing existing materials. However, recycled wool may also contain synthetic fibers that are not biodegradable or recyclable. Therefore, both types of wool have some environmental costs and benefits.
In CH Cashmere factory, both pure wool yarn and wool blend yarn all use virgin wool from Australia. CH Cashmere factory produce high quality, comfort and durability sweaters for our clients and their brands. If you need recycle wool, we also can help you to find some new yarn vendors who can supply recycle wool.