Fully woolly lounging
The passion for creating a truly authentic natural lounging range made from 100 per cent New Zealand-strong wool led Amanda Dorset from Wilson and Dorset to form a wise co-lab.
"We had been carefully crafting natural woollen products for conscious consumers, and I was sick of having no option but to fill our cushions, stone sets and shaggy bags with synthetic fibres,” says Amanda.
“In the 1940s, 80 per cent of our homes had wool carpets; sadly today, it is only in 15 per cent of homes,” says Amanda, who notes that we have reached a tipping point now where New Zealanders are increasingly turning away from synthetic products and wanting to live a more natural, sustainable lifestyle.
Amanda heard about Wisewool through a friend. This revolutionary product is being developed by the Hansens in East Cape, a family of fifth-generation wool handlers who are reengineering wool into fillers for cushions, mattresses, sofas and chairs.
Wisewool is engineered by intertwining wool fibres into tiny spring-like buds that enhance its inherent bounce and resilience while retaining all the natural, organic properties and attributes of wool.
Using Wisewool inside their cushions and stone sets, Wilson and Dorset have saved more than 600 kilograms of imported polyester fill from ending up in landfills.
While Amanda says finding alternative fill for the shaggy bean bags has been more complicated, Wilson and Dorset is investigating both an eco-bead to replace the polystyrene beads, and also a wool fill option. Watch this space for an innovative new development.
“It’s an exciting time to be involved with New Zealand wool,” says Amanda. “The government is supporting growth and innovation, which support farmers as well as our health and wellbeing.”
