organic wool

Just saw this press release:

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/8/emw421478.htm - Release
http://www.o-wool.com/ - Yarn Company

Middlebury, VT (PRWEB) August 7, 2006 -- Just in time for the cool days of Fall and the gift-giving holiday season, Vermont Organic Fiber Company (VTOF) is announcing its new “O~Wool™ Classic” line of organic wool hand knitting yarn, offered in color-rich hues. This is the first time yarn made with organic wool has been made widely available to the hand knitting market. The worsted-weight “O~Wool™ Classic” yarn, made from organic Australian Merino wool and spun at a U.S. mill, is perfect for making holiday gifts or as a gift in its own right. The yarn is available in select stores nationwide as well as via major Internet yarn retailers (see retail locations under “O~Wool Yarn” at www.o-wool.com).

Organic wool is part of the rapidly-growing $160 million U.S. organic fiber industry, which grew 44 percent in 2005, according to the Organic Trade Association 2006 Manufacturer Survey released in May. For wool to be certified as organic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that the sheep be fed organic feed and forage from the last third of gestation and be raised without the use of synthetic hormones or pesticides (internal or external). In addition, organic livestock producers are required to ensure that they do not exceed the natural carrying capacity of the land on which their animals graze.

“With the increasing interest in organic fiber products, organic wool sweaters, blankets, throws and the like are becoming more and more commercially available,” says Matthew Mole, VTOF president. “What was missing was the ability of hand knitters to make their own beautiful organic wool products, and in a wide range of colors. With “O~Wool™ Classic” yarn, hand knitters can enjoy using organic wool yarn with the knowledge they are supporting organic production and processing both in the U.S. and around the world.”

To enable the nation’s 53 million knitters to make the most beautiful items, “O~Wool™ Classic” yarn is available in thirteen rich colors perfect for all seasons, including cornflower, plum, sumac and willow. The nature of the yarn gives it excellent stitch definition and the long staple length prevents pilling. The wool is processed in accordance with the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Fiber Processing Standards (http://www.ota.com/polls/21.html).

In addition to hand knitting yarn, VTOF currently supplies commercial yarn and fabrics to manufacturers from North America to Europe and Asia, including Ecobaby (San Diego, CA), Fox River Mills (Osage, IA), IBEX (Woodstock, VT), Jasco Fabrics (White Plains ,NY), Maggie’s Organics (Ypsilanti, MI), and Patagonia (Ventura, CA). This year’s organic wool marketplace includes blankets, diapers and diaper covers, gloves, socks and sweaters manufactured from O~Wool™ organic wool. On September 9, 2006, “O~Wool by Jasco™” organic wool fabrics donated by VTOF will be highlighted at the Academy of Art University fashion show as part of Olympus Fashion Week in New York City.