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ORGANIC
FIBRES COMMUNITY
CO-OPERATION / FAIR-TRADE ACCESSORIES
LINKS RESOURCES
ORGANIC
FIBRES
Organic farming is a sustainable system of agriculture, with strict
restrictions on the use of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides,
fungicides and fertilisers, is subject to inspection and must comply with
rigorous standards. To be sold as “organic,” products must meet
legally defined rules. There are nine certification bodies in the
UK
, of which the Soil Association is probably the best known.
Suppliers
Cornish Organic Wool source organic
wool from local farmers and supply the spun wool to customers with minimal
impact on the environment. The wool is available online or from “Knit
Wits” in
Penzance and a number of other outlets too - see their website
for details. Tel. 01736 350905, http://www.cornishorganicwool.co.uk
Garthenor proud to be the first Soil
Association certified organic yarn supplier; all their wool is unbleached
and undyed from traditional and rare breeds of British sheep. Garthenor,
Tregaron,
Ceredigion
,
SY25 6UR
, Tel. 01570 493347, http://organicwoollies.co.uk
COMMUNITY
CO-OPERATION / FAIR-TRADE
Fair trade aims to improve conditions for grass-roots producers and
the environment, working to help establish economic self-sufficiency.
Various national and international fair trade bodies exist – the largest
and best known being The Fairtrade Labelling Organization.
Many companies around the world perform a similar role without
formal certification by supporting growers and producers at a local level
and enabling them to earn a sustainable living, helping traditional ways
of life to continue.
Suppliers
Artesano – some of the best
of
Bolivia
’s hand-made textiles and gifts is available from this
UK
based company. They also market alpaca yarn, under the name “Inca
Cloud,” – sold through normal retail outlets. A percentage of their
profits is channelled back via the Isabelle Trust, to help improve working
conditions and build a small school.
28 Mansfield Road
,
Reading
,
RG1 6AJ
, Tel. 01189 503350, http://www.artesano.co.uk
Jamieson and Smith Shetland Wool
Brokers purchase the vast majority of the wool grown in the Shetland Isles
and are continually working to improve the economic benefits to the local
crofters and farmers throughout the processing chain.
90 North Road
, Lerwick, Shetland Isles, ZE1 0PQ 01595 693579 http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk
Based in the
US
and
China
, Shokay source yak fibre directly from Tibetan herders, enabling
them to earn a living and preserve their traditional lifestyle. A portion
of their profits return to these communities to aid local development,
especially health and education. Their yarn is available from a number of
shops in the
US
and online from http://www.pureknits.com
235 E. 13th St.
, New York, NY 10003 and Chang Hua Road Lane 765 #3 Unit #3B, Shanghai,
200060, China, http://www.shokay.com
ACCESSORIES
Purlescence sell Lantern
Moons’ rosewood needles and silk cases as well as
Brittany
birch needles. The company describes green issues as a prime concern and
believes its customers are naturally resource-conscious, the essence of
the craft encouraging awareness of how things are made and where they come
from. http://www.Purlescence.co.uk
Prym/Innox bamboo needles are
available from Texere Yarns College Mill,
Bradford
,
BD1 4AU
, http://www.texere.co.uk, suppliers
of a wide range of yarns, books and knitting accessories.
Eastern Aromatic Red Cedar products available from Helst Pest Control,
The Old Post House Monkland,
Leominster
,
HR6 9DB
, http://www.thezapper.co.uk,
specialists in non-poisonous, environmentally friendly products.
RESOURCES
Online
http://www.eco-knitting.org
- YOU ARE
HERE!
This free resource for the environmentally aware
knitter.
http://www.fairtradefederation.org
- the association of
Canadian and American fair trade wholesalers, importers and retailers.
http://www.ifoam.org - an international umbrella organisation for national organic
certification bodies.
http://www.soilassociation.org
- the
UK
’s best known organic certification body.
http://www.dystar.com
- developing innovative dyes; under the Econfidence
programme, the company offer a range of low impact colorants to meet
the organic cotton textile standards. See website for details
(registration required).
Printed
“A Dyer's Garden: From Plant to Pot
- Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers” by Rita Buchanan (Interweave Press),
1995, ISBN1883010071
“Natural Knits for Babies and Mums” by
Louisa Harding (Search Press), 2006 ISBN 1844482022
“Traditional Scottish Dyes and How to Make
Them” by Jean Fraser, illustrated by Florence Knowles (Canongate
Publishing, Edinburgh), 1988 ISBN 0862411084 – a very readable,
practical book, sadly out of print, but second-hand copies are sometimes
available.
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