More Information

These warm, durable and beautiful blankets are made from 100% wool sourced from four neighboring farms in the French Alps.

They represent some wonderful rural traditions: the blankets are made in a 200 year-old family run mill which supports the raising of the local pure breed sheep which have roamed the alpine valleys for centuries. This preserves traditional animal husbandry and agriculture and protects local alpine meadows and pastures.

Highly insulating, these blankets are considered a performance fabric. They have been used for centuries as both tenting fabric and for hunting, skiing, climbing and army outfits to protect from the bitingly cold temperatures. 

Materials
Woven from 100% wool from sheep raised on farms that do not use any fertilisers or antibiotics. The blankets are currently going through the application process for organic status. 100% wool is a natural fire retardant, which means fabric finishes are not necessary.

Wool is a renewable resource and is a product of shearing. Sheep have to be shorn 1-2 time per annum depending on breed. The sheep are shorn in the summer months so they can stay warm in winter. All the shorn wool is sorted and used in one way or another, and there is no waste. The finest fleece is saved for textiles and the remainder supplied to wool shops as yarn or for insulation materials.

People
These blankets are woven in a mill by local people. The mill uses traditional machinery built by local craftsmen. All workers are protected by French and Italian labour laws.

Resources
The mill operates from a river driven turbine, which limits water use.  Water is used for washing the wool and is then returned to the river cleaner and richer. Where the used water is returned to the river there is a concentration of river fish, including trout.

The processing (sorting, washing, natural air drying, spinning and weaving etc), of the wool is all carried out by hand or using renewable energy: 90% hydro power from the water wheel, 5% wood burning heaters using locally sourced reclaimed wood and sawdust and 5% solar energy for drying.

Transportation
The wool is supplied by tractor or lorry to the mill by four farms approx 10 miles apart from each other. The farmers group together to deliver the shorn wool, to avoid making too many journeys. Weather conditions (namely snow), mean that deliveries are focused in the summer months.

The finished blankets are shipped to the UK via sea and road.

Packaging
The blankets are packaged using cardboard and recycled plastic and have been awarded the French eco packaging certification 'eco-emballage'.

Care instructions
The blankets are exceptionally tough and durable and should last at least 4 generations. However, you should ensure they’re protected from moths when stored. They don’t require much washing as they’re stain and water resistant because of natural-occurring lanolin in the wool.