The Black Sheep of the Wool Industry

Carolin Schelkle – The Black Sheep of the Wool Industry

There are more than 1000 sheep breeds in the world, producing fibres of different colours, lengths, and textures, but only the finest wool is suitable for the textile industry. Since European wool does not reach these high standards, large amounts of raw wool have turned from a source of income into a waste product. With increasing interest in sustainable use of natural resources, wool should be re-considered as an underrated and underused renewable resource, worthy of better exploration. This project investigates the potential of European wool by exploring a new production process, i.e., automatic felting. The resulting jacket illustrates the potential of this technology and takes advantage of the natural properties of wool, turning it from waste into a valuable raw material.

Diploma project (2022) by Carolin Schelkle

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Eyes on Talents Award

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