A Sheep In Wool’s Clothing
By Jenn | August 18, 2009
I’m currently preparing for a big trip and am trying to be on top of things, as I’ll be pretty far Out There. As far Out There as I’ve personally ever been, which is really exciting!
I realized I needed a good, warm, wicking, sturdy, and dependable base layer to bring with me. Most of the insulating layers I’ve bought in the past, while really functional and useful, are made from polypropylene aka plastic. Thought I’d try to avoid that this go-round… so I turned to the alternatives: Karina has pondered about bamboo clothing before, but it doesn’t necessarily make for a great insulating layer. She and I have been pining over wool outdoors clothing for awhile now, but it’s really kind of expensive– much more expensive than polypro– however, it just seemed like the right time to take the plunge.
I bought an Icebreaker wool top (in an awesome red/orange color which doesn’t seem to exist on their site). It helped that they were running a promotion in which I got a free wool tanktop along with my purchase… thus it just felt like I was paying less for the top. The great thing about wool clothing is that it’s wool! It comes from sheep! Not from petroleum!
Of course, as a veganish, wool clothing presents a new dilemma… and one which I’ll admit I forgot all about until I sat down to write this post (which just goes to show what kind of veganish I am). If I’m not eating products which contain ingredients which come from animals, then is it ethical to wear their by-products? Some would say no and I generally agree with them. However, two things: first is that the alternative (polypro) is plastic and thus a petroleum product, which bites, and I hate that that’s the choice I’m forced to make. And second is that the wool top I bought is produced by a company with a strong environmental commitment. So much so that I’m able to trace my wool shirt back to the actual sheep which produced the wool!
Using the Icebreaker Baacode site, I can trace my wool back to the Glen Orkney sheep station and the Stonehenge station, both in New Zealand. I can watch videos on the farms and farmers, read about the company’s environmental ethics, manufacturing ethics, and animal welfare, and the company’s detailed philosophy which includes a high-level commitment to transparency in their manufacturing/supply chain. And when I signed up for their newsletter, they planted a tree in my name. Awww, a tree.
While I’m not about to buy a whole new wool wardrobe, I am happy to own a piece of clothing which I kind of consider an investment: the high price ensures that each purchase is carefully considered, and the material–wool– is sure to last a very long time. One of my favorite snowboarding tops is an old wool sweater bought from a thrift shop, so as an insulating/wicking material I already know it can’t be beat. And, I’m really really happy to take a step away from all the plastic outdoors gear I’ve already got.
But you know, I didn’t buy any wool bottoms… hmmm, I sure wish someone would write a good review of wool bottoms…
[Image by russelljsmith via Creative Commons]
Related posts:
- A Sheep In Wool’s Clothing - Part II!
- Wool for the Win!
- Tiny Choices Giveaway: IceBreaker Wool Shirt!
- Performance “Technical” Clothing
- Update on my clothing choices
- Winner: IceBreaker Wool Shirt!
- Readers, please help me make some clothes decisions.
Topics: Yoga & Fitness |
Wow - looks like Icebreaker has some good stuff! I’ve been looking at wool baselayers, too - for cold weather cycling - I’m determined to extend the season a little longer this year! Might have to start saving some pennies for a nice wool set for cold days. :)
just wait for tomorrow! :) more info than you can shake a stick at!
What about silk liners? Heard those keep you pretty warm.
You know, I’ve had silk longjohns for years now, and I just don’t get the appeal. They’re very thin (which is good) but I don’t really find them particularly insulating (which isn’t so good). Would love to hear your opinion, if you get some!
Have you looked for recycled poly outerwear? I am using 100% recycled poly from post consumer waste for my collection. The energy resources saved by recycling waste into fabrics is amazing when you compare it to growing and processing organic fibers, or even processing and dying wool. These synthetic fabrics can have fantastic technical advantages; wicking, shorter drying times, respiration, etc…
Plastics get a bad rap for being unnatural, without considering their positive characteristics and environmental benefits. Just think, when products made from recycled poly wear out, these items can be put in the recycled bin to create new items. Making recycling an integral part of poly production makes it one of the greenest textile production methods in use.
Personally, I can’t wear poly - it reacts in a very stinky manner with my natural chemistry. check back tomorrow, I talk a little bit more about it!
I like the silk bottoms for the winter (when you are talking down to -5C, otherwise wool it is). They last a good long time and are not bulky under your clothes. I get mine from Mountain Equipment Coop. It is an outdoors company that is not-for -profit and has a very strong environmental stance. They ship most stuff most places so you can check them out no matter where in the world you live.
[…] A Sheep In Wool’s Clothing […]
[…] It was an absolute coincidence that we both wrote our Icebreaker love-letter posts simultaneously (Jenn’s here and Karina’s here)– but it’s a good indicator of the depth of our respect for […]