Wool Wellbeing Tip #1: Wool Clothing

It can be difficult to know if you are making environmentally-friendly choices when you are shopping for clothes, but one thing is clear – choosing natural fibres over synthetics can make a huge difference in protecting our soils, waterways and oceans.

Microplastic particles from synthetic clothing and textiles are widespread in aquatic and land-based ecosystems around the world and 35% of those in marine environments are fibres from synthetic clothing. During a recent survey, 44% of people asked did not realise that the synthetic fibres in their clothes (such as polyester, acrylic or nylon) are actually plastic.

Naturally (excuse the pun!), because we handcraft wool-filled bedding products, we regularly write about how wool is better than synthetic fibres because of its sustainability.  A sheep’s fleece continuously grows and so in the spring and summer needs to be sheared to relieve the sheep from its heavy winter coat. Wool also has temperature regulating properties, as well as a natural resistance to dust mites. But it doesn’t just stop there. When it comes to biodegradability, wool is a lot better for the planet than synthetic materials because it does not cause microplastic pollution.

So, it's not just about being better for us but also for our beautiful planet too – and we call this ‘wool wellbeing’! Recent studies have shown that wool readily biodegrades, releasing nutrients, and this is better for our soils and, ultimately, our marine environments.  

When you are next out and about, shopping for new wardrobe items, here are some things to bear in mind:

• Check the labels: choose garments that are made from natural fibres or, at least, have a high percentage of natural fibres. Examples are wool, cotton, tencel, linen, bamboo and silk. Clothing made from synthetic (plastic) is listed a

One of our core values is responsible sourcing because we want our products to be 100% natural and sustainable as possible. That’s why we only ever buy our wool from British farmers who we know to have the highest standards of animal husbandry and whose wool is certified by the British Wool organisation. We also only ever make our alpaca duvets with alpaca wool from British alpaca farmers who are approved by the British Alpaca Society. Our 100% plant-based range, Botanic, is filled with fibres containing TENCEL Lyocell that are processed from sustainable wood sources, using an Eco award-winning process, pioneered by Lenzing.

The casings for our THREE Duvets sections are made with a high quality 100% cotton fabric that is especially woven for us. The cotton itself is produced to support the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which promotes better environmental and socio-economic cotton farming practises.

So, when we decided to add silk as a filling option for our THREE Duvets range, we wanted to find a silk that was responsibly sourced. During our research we found we could purchase silk duvets from China but then we wouldn’t be certain about the source, or the quality of the silk used – and then, of course, it wouldn’t be a product handcrafted by our brilliant seamstresses here in Devon, which is what we are all about.

We knew we could use cotton for the casing as we already had our responsibly sourced cotton fabric - but how do you responsibly source silk? In a utopian situation we would have used silk harvested from the cocoons of wild silk moths living on Dartmoor - but this isn’t possible. After a lot of research and meetings with silk specialists, we found a company that produces high quality mulberry silk for luxury fabrics. The cocoons are allowed to hatch naturally before the fibre processing begins. Before the silk is dyed, it is cut to

Our thousands of happy customers know that we are committed to responsible sourcing when it comes to our wool bedding products. Some of our customers ask how we ensure that our wool comes from farms where the highest animal welfare standards are followed.

The answer is that 100% of the wool we use is fully traceable British wool and British sheep are some of the best cared for sheep in the world. In the UK, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the government department responsible for many standards to do with environmental protection, food production and animal welfare. They exercise very strict controls over farmers and often visit unannounced to inspect animals in their care. Any farmer not considered to be upholding these standards would be banned from keeping sheep.

Additionally, in Britain, the practice of ‘mulesing’ is a banned and illegal practice, whereas in many countries this is normal. By purchasing British wool, we are not only supporting British farmers, which is very important to us, but we also have the assurance that the sheep have not had to undergo this unnecessary and often painful practice. 

British Wool is the organisation that works with British farmers, setting the standards for wool quality through their comprehensive grading system. They are also the approved provider for shearing and wool handling training in the UK, with a programme of courses that are recognised across the world and which are led by a team of registered, highly experienced instructors. At THREE Duvets, we only ever accept wool from live sheep that have been shorn in the Spring or Summer, when the sheep naturally need to lose their heavy fleeces.

So, by purchasing a THREE Duvets section made from traceable 100% British wool that has been certified by the British Wool organisation, you can be confident that you are buy

Winter is a wonderful time of the year – cosy nights in front of the fire, hot chocolate, comfort food and frosty days with bright blue skies.  We can also feel a bit more tired and less energetic - and there’s a reason for this change. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are tilted away from the sun as part of the Earth’s natural orbit, and this is what makes the daylight hours shorter and darker hours longer. It’s colder too, as a result, making it harder to leave your cosy bed! All of this makes us want to sleep longer.

Sunlight helps our bodies to make vitamin D, which is essential for good health, so we notice a difference when we don't get enough. Less sunlight also causes our brain to produce more of the hormone melatonin, which makes you feel sleepy. These changes in daylight and melatonin levels have an impact on our internal clock, also known as our circadian rhythm. As a result of the darkness our brain tells us that we should be tucked up and sleeping more. Although it’s nice to have extra time in bed, and whilst we sometimes wish we could stay in bed and not have to get up for work or get the kids to school we all have our busy daily lives. So, it’s all about managing that – and here’s some ideas to help:

• Let there be light! Firstly, make sure you are letting in as much light as possible throughout the day. Open your curtains as soon as you wake up and maybe even the window to let some fresh air in. You could even wrap up and try some meditation or yoga in the sun to allow your body to relax and soak it all up. The more sunlight you get, the better you will feel!
• Step up! Exercise is good for you and helps you feel fresh and revitalised. It’s so easy to slip into bad habits and practically hibernate during the cold weather but push yourself and you will feel much better for it. Why not try getting sunlight and exercise all within the same hour? Go for a light early morning jog – even a brisk walk will set you for th

Wool cloth production in Britain started in the Bronze Age, in around 1900 BC, although fleece from domesticated sheep had been used for warmth as early as 6,000 BC. Initially, wool was combed from the sheep during the time they lost their fleece in the warmer months, with the first evidence of shearing, dating back to the Iron Age.

Even before the dawning of the 1^st century, the Ancient Britons had already developed a woven wool industry. In fact, when the Romans arrived on our shores in 55 BC, British wool cloth was considered a luxury item. The Romans were so impressed by British woven wool cloth that they established a wool plant in Winchester in 50 AD, to further develop the skills of British weavers and ensure a steady supply of this prized item. By the 4^th century, the British birrus (hooded cape) was amongst the highest prized and most desirable items listed in The Edict of Diocletian, a summary of traded goods across the Roman Empire.

Britain continued to export woollen fabrics to mainland Europe, and beyond, throughout the next few centuries, and this gathered momentum after the Norman Conquest in 1066 to such an extent that by the 12^th century, wool was England’s greatest national asset. Over the next 500 years, Flemish master weavers settled in the UK, followed by Huguenot weavers from France, all adding their unique skills to the production of British wool cloth. By the end of the 17^th century wool cloth amounted to over 65% of the value of British exports. Throughout this time, the wool trade created some of Britain’s wealthiest merchants, who then made sizeable donations towards the building of churches, schools and universities.

With the Industrial Revolution in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, mechanical processes for spinning and weaving British wool meant that Britain was able to produce considerably more cloth for the domestic and international market, wit

Now that we are in to 2022, we all have hopes for a positive year that will bring us happiness and wellbeing. A good immune system is so important for good health and trying to live a healthier lifestyle will help give this a boost.

We all know that It’s not always easy to stick to our good intentions – and sometimes it can be hard! However, there are some easy changes to make that will help support our own health and that of our family. We’ve come up with a few tips.

Spend more time outside…

Vitamin D is essential for helping our immune systems to function and we can get some of this from a small number of foods, such as oily fish. However, it is also created by our body when we are outside. When our skin is exposed to sunlight, the UVB rays interact with a protein called 7-DHC in our skin, converting it into vitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D. From late March to early October, we can make enough vitamin D from being out in the sun daily for a short period with our forearms, hands or lower legs uncovered. Obviously, as the sun gets warmer throughout the year, make sure you don’t expose your skin for too long without the protection of a good sun cream - and always take extra care with children’s delicate skin. For the winter months, when our bodies can’t make as much vitamin D by being outside, check with your pharmacist or health shop to see what vitamin D supplements they advise.

‘Me’ Time…

It’s important that we are kind to ourselves because it is a well-known fact that stress can affect the efficiency of our immune system. The everyday stresses of work and busy family lives often don’t leave us much time to relax and do something that makes us feel calmer – but it’s so important that we make the time and not feel guilty about it. So, take time out for that long, relaxing bath in luxurious natural bath oils, book yourself a massage or have an early night with a good book.

It sounds impossible but it isn’t…thanks to a pioneering fibre manufacturing process that’s enabled our expert seamstresses in our Devon workshops to create a natural, 100% sustainable product that’s made from trees. This is our Botanic range.

Right from the beginning, we have always focussed on the production of natural products, in fact ever since our founders, Dick and Pauline Beijen, left their busy international careers for a smallholding on Dartmoor. They started with bee keeping, soap making and other crafts, before expanding into making wool-based products, including wool duvets, using responsibly sourced wool from their own flock of sheep. Following a programme in 2009 for Channel 4, hosted by Monty Don, Dick and Pauline started commercial production of wool duvets, selling through a major retailer as well as direct, through their own website.

When Dick and Pauline discovered a revolutionary material that is made using plant fibres, it was an obvious next step for them to develop a new duvet for customers who, for specific reasons or personal values or health, would like an alternative option.

The material consists of a raw fibre called TENCEL™Lyocell, a natural fibre created using a pioneering, ECO award-winning manufacturing process by the Austrian company Lenzing. The fibres are derived from certified and controlled sustainable wood sources, through a process proven to have a low ecological impact as well as being fully traceable and genuinely ethical.

The TENCEL™Lyocell fibres are supplied to us in specially needled layers, where they are used as filling for our THREE Duvets Botanic duvet sections, and wrapped in a 100% cotton casing. The two elements are brought together by our amazing seamstresses, who lovingly handcraft each one to ensure a soft-to-the-touch, second to none quality duvet section.

Beautifully soft and comfortable, every THREE Duvets Botanic duvet section is a natural, handcrafted product that is env