The Warmth of Wool It’s that time of year when we embrace winter with warmth of wool. Bernie de Le Cuona has a way with wool. From the beautifully nubbly boucle texture of Bearcat, and the robust dense pile of Merino Velvet, to the waterfall drape of Ballet, wool is put through its paces in de Le Cuona’s collections. Wool belongs in the hands of designers who respect and admire it – none more so than at de Le Cuona. Yarn is carefully sourced and woven by specially chosen mills. This is a mutual bond. Wool is, of course, a renewable and biodegradable natural fibre, and repays the care given to it with longevity, breathability, and ease of handling. It is naturally fire retardant, hypoallergenic, stain resistant and contributes to air quality by trapping dust particles in its top layers. The wellbeing of the planet goes hand in hand with the wellbeing of the humans who work with and live surrounded by these fibres; that’s the philosophy of de Le Cuona – to create beauty that’s rooted in nature. What can be more graceful and so gossamer light that it defies our view of wool than Coco - woven in couture fashion mill from pure virgin wool to create a sublime drape, a dreamily soft fabric. In the words of Coco Chanel after whom the cloth was named, ‘simplicity is the keynote of true elegance’ and nothing could be more simple and yet more technically ingenious as this supremely elegant fabric that has been crafted using the purest wool. Yet, when paired with other natural fibres: linen, cashmere and alpaca, wool, is the ultimate shapeshifter. It is combined beautifully to create interesting mixed yarns or contrasting warp and weft yarns are balanced to create innovative textures and affects. Kalahari, for example, is a linen and wool fabric that uses different weave structures to create an intricate and pronounced design. The decorative patterns in the weave echo those found painted on huts in Africa. The story of wool is the story of our planet. de Le Cuona follows the lifecycle of the fibres and ensures that traceability is a key component of the fabrics. It’s not enough to say that the product is natural. It must stay true to its path from the earth to our homes with as little exposure to harsh processes and damaging chemicals as possible. It matters – to de le Cuona, to customers and, most importantly of all, to the planet. The Campaign for Wool celebrates the wonders of wool throughout October. A new film called “Why Wool Matters” highlights the natural eco properties of this beautiful planet-friendly fibre. Wear Wool, Not Fossil Fuel is the latest campaign by The Woolmark Company. Think you know wool, think again? Discover our Wool Collection
