Wool in the 21st century

A new report examining the use of wool in the 21st century as a key textile fibre has now been released by industry intelligence source ReportBuyer.

The production of wool textiles plays an integral part in history even before fashion became a business some centuries ago. Surprisingly, wool makes up a relatively low percentage of the global fibre market. The majority of global wool production goes into clothing and accessories.

The price of wool, of course, is much higher than cotton or man-made fibres, and is often regarded as a luxury yarn, confined to niche markets. Technical fabrics and synthetics are fast becoming leaders in the fabric world, however they do not have the sustainability, performance or even aesthetics that wool does.

The report aims to show the rather forgotten, yet unique textile fibre and examines its place in the textile value chain. It addresses its decline in popularity, the reasons for its current comeback, and assesses future prospects for the wool industry.

The report aims to demystify the tangled international supply chain for sheep's wool and specialised wool products such as cashmere, alpaca, and mohair, from the growers to the processors, spinners, and textile manufacturers in various regions of the globe.

It identifies new developments in breeding, processing, and spinning wool fibre, that are resulting in improved product; and discusses the consumer lifestyle changes, creative product development, and marketing efforts driving the fibre's future prospects.