Wool’s Untapped Opportunity: Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s British Wool Bedding

Is British wool wasted?

It’s no secret many farmers choose to burn or bury their wool. It simply isn’t worth their time, effort and money.

When consumers think wool, they think fashion, blankets, furniture perhaps. But these products tend to be machine-made from imported fleece. Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. endeavours to change that. Their solution: handcrafted British wool bedding and mattresses.

Longevity, sustainability and luxury. Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. is a Made in Britain member which prides itself on its long-lasting handcrafted pieces- from sculpted British iron beds to hand-sewn Sandringham wool mattresses. Not to mention their fleece-filled wool enhancer, duvets and mattress protectors.

Their passion for natural fibres, notably British wool, is undeniable. Founder Amanda Oldfield is dedicated to educating consumers on wool’s benefits and opportunities, whilst supporting local suppliers and establishing environmentally positive practices. Even the brand’s podcast, Two in a Bed, is a fount of wondrous wool knowledge.

It’s a brand ahead of the curve. One that’s open to the next opportunity to showcase British wool.

For the sheep farmers looking to diversify? Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s wool bedding is the way.

Wool Wastage

Every year, up to 90% of sheep’s wool is burnt or buried across Europe. That’s the equivalent of almost 200,000 tonnes per year.

Is this down to the lack of opportunities that utilise ungraded wool?

As many farmers well know, but consumers are beginning to understand after a number of recently publicised cases of wool burning, the price of British wool is too low.

Today, farmers see no financial gain in shearing their flock and transporting the fleece across the country to receive just a few pence per kilo (which they won’t receive until a year’s time). In the 1950s, they were receiving up to £14 per kilo, enough to make a profit and persuade them to do it all again the following year.

Pre-pandemic, the British wool industry wasn’t thriving, but Covid-19 only served to increase the number of barriers it’s facing. Prices plummeted and, alongside the dangerously fast rise of synthetic fibres, food is undoubtedly a priority over fibre.

As a result, farmers are working at a loss. Possibly in protest, but undeniably a practicality, burning fleece has become the norm. Whilst disheartening for farmers, it’s also environmentally damaging, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Today, the chance to spread awareness of British wool’s benefits and its uses is indispensable.

The Benefits of Wool

Breathable, renewable, hypoallergenic. Wool is a natural fibre with a myriad of inherent benefits.

Sheep’s fleece is a renewable source that benefits the flock’s welfare and the planet. It’s biodegradable and fire-resistant. (Did you know this makes wool ideal for gardening?) Wool is hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites and prevents bacteria build-up. It’s the foundation for a calming, uninterrupted sleep.

Wool’s ability to thermoregulate body temperature keeps cool sleepers warm and warm sleepers cool. It wicks away moisture, controls odours and keeps you ventilated during summer, whilst insulating heat during colder months.

Wool is a fibre that transcends seasons. It’s a natural solution to slow the rise of fossil-fuel-based synthetics.

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.: An Advocate for British Materials

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. is the destination for British-made craftsmanship.

Based in Wolferton, on Norfolk’s Sandringham Estate, Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. is a family-run company that understands the importance of uninterrupted sleep. Dreamlike slumber has the power to calm, refresh and rejuvenate you.

A Royal Warrant holder, Made in Britain member and certified Carbon Neutral, Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s craft is shaped by longevity, sustainability and fine quality. Two decades of bed-making knowhow culminates in a high-quality selection of heritage-inspired 100% British iron beds and sumptuous 100% British wool bedding.

Each bed is made to order, hand-sculpted using time-honoured techniques and perfected with their identifiable cast iron flower symbol. The brand’s wool-based products are no less considerate of handcrafted artistry.

From Dartmoor in Devon to Porthmadog in Wales, Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. seek to promote the benefits of British-made through education and collaboration.

What better way to top an artisanal iron bed than with an indulgent British wool mattress and enveloping British wool bedding?

British Wool Bedding & Mattresses

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s Founder, Amanda Oldfield, is passionate about British wool.

Her interest was sparked during her mission to create 100% British wool mattresses and bedding. Supporting British sheep farmers, their wool, and sheep welfare has led Amanda on her own journey as a shepherd.

She educates Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s customers. Why shouldn’t you use pure British wool for mattress ticking? (A feature the brand’s updated Sandringham Wool mattresses now showcase). Why can’t you use wool all year round? Why wouldn’t you choose natural fibres over synthetic ones?

Amanda’s passion and perseverance epitomise the company’s dedication to spotlighting British wool and reducing unnecessary waste.

British wool fibres are typically 20 to 30 microns in thickness. They’re thick, hardwearing, and strong. The hollow fibres retain their shape and spring back, ideal for preserving the comfort of your mattress and the lightness of your duvet.

Sandringham Wool Collection

Sumptuous, supportive and sustainable: the Sandringham Wool collection boasts five mattresses, one wool enhancer, three duvets and a mattress protector. This handcrafted collection personifies the possibilities of British wool.

It’s exclusively crafted with fleece from the Sandringham Estate’s Aberfield flock, hyperlocally sourced just 5 minutes from the company’s Wolferton workshop.

Each mattress boasts up to 20kg of local British wool, illustrating its luxuriousness. Hand-teased layers of carded wool are blended with sustainably sourced organic cotton, silk, horsetail, cashmere, and alpaca for enduring support. Chemical-free hand-tied pure wool tufts secure each layer for even distribution.

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s duvets promote refreshing breathability for soothing and serene slumber. Available in light, medium and warm, each one is encased in a cool organic cotton cover. Moreover, their wool mattress protectors will extend the life of your bedding (and the quality of your sleep) with their unconventional open sides for optimal ventilation.

Organically farmed and sustainably driven, the Sandringham Wool collection protects animal welfare and supports local suppliers. As a result, fibres are strong and healthy. The wool is traceable back to the bale. Once the total amount of fleece has been used, there’s a natural wait until the following yield.

These practices are sustainable and reassuring for both the customer and the farmer.

Natural Comfort Collection

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s Natural Comfort collection showcases just that- the natural comfort of locally sourced wool.

A collection of four mattresses, each one balances fulfilling comfort with steadfast support. This is thanks to deluxe layers of 100% British wool, validated and sourced by the British Wool® scheme, supporting sheep farmers across the country.

Handcrafted in collaboration with a fellow family-run Made in Britain member, the Natural Comfort collection pairs the breathable fibre with sustainably sourced organic cotton, fine horsehair and cashmere. Each plump mattress’ cocooning cotton cover is naturally soothing for a calming sleep environment, the foundation for an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

It’s a showcase of high quality, durable craftsmanship and the elevation of authentic homegrown British wool.

The Opportunities of British Wool

British wool doesn’t need to be burnt or buried.

Wouldn’t you rather your fleece was given a second life? As wool bedding, or in a Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co. mattress?

In the face of fast fashion and fast interiors, there’s been a rise in sustainable living. And this time, it’s not a fleeting trend. It’s here to stay.

Consumers are more aware of their impact on our planet, the possibilities of seasonality and the need to support local. Who’s to say that doesn’t mean investing in the British wool industry?

Farmers can utilise their fleece and support fellow family-run businesses. This will not only promote the natural fibre, but the British wool industry as a whole. It will educate and expose consumers to wool’s uses and benefits and inspire further innovation.

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s British wool bedding demonstrates a future for homegrown fibre.

Each product reinvests in the British wool industry, educating consumers to increase the recognition and value of our local fleece. They preserve traditional techniques and honour farmers’ commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, a reflection of their own commitment to longevity and British materials.

Their authentic handcrafted mattress and bedding collections support British farmers, local scourers and small-scale manufacturers. Perhaps Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.’s next collections will boast Yorkshire fleece, Cumbrian fibres or, even, Welsh wool.

For more details visit www.wroughtironandbrassbed.co.uk, call us on 01485 542516 or visit our showroom at 39 Turbine Way, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7XD.

Images courtesy of Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co.

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