What Is Strong Wool?
Strong wool is known for its durability and robust nature, making it well-suited for heavy-duty applications. This guide explores its distinctive properties, how it’s produced, and why it is considered a sustainable material choice.
Key Takeaways
Definition: Strong wool refers to coarser wool fibres, typically above 31 microns in diameter.
Durability: Known for its toughness, strong wool is used in products that require resilience.
Common Uses: Its strength benefits carpets, bedding, mattress construction, furniture upholstery, insulation and the crafting and quilting industry.
Sustainability: A renewable, biodegradable fibre with a low environmental impact.
Origin: Primarily sourced from New Zealand sheep breeds like Romney and Coopworth.
What Is Strong Wool?
Strong wool is a type of sheep wool characterised by its thick, coarse fibres, making it tougher and more durable than fine wool (like Merino). While fine wool is prized for its softness, strong wool is valued for its resilience and ability to withstand heavy use.
Characteristics of Strong Wool:
Fiber Diameter: Typically between 31–42 microns.
Texture: Coarser than fine wool, with a natural crimp that enhances durability.
Color: Often bright white, making it ideal for dyeing and various end uses.
How Strong Wool Compares to Fine Wool
| Feature | Strong Wool | Fine Wool |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre Diameter | 31–42 microns | 15–25 microns |
| Texture | Coarse and Robust | Soft and silky |
| Durability | High - ideal for heavy-duty uses | Moderate - best for delicate items |
| Common Uses | Mattresses, Bedding, Carpets, Furniture upholstery, Crafting & Quilting | Clothing, knitwear, accessories |
| Price | More affordable | Higher cost |
What Makes Strong Wool Unique?
1. Durability and Resilience
The thicker fibres of strong wool give it exceptional strength, allowing it to handle wear and tear in demanding applications like carpets, furniture, mattress construction, bedding and upholstery.
2. Moisture and Temperature Regulation
Strong wool is naturally breathable like all wool, wicking away moisture and regulating temperature, making it a great insulator.
3. Natural Crimp
The natural crimp in strong wool fibers gives the wool natural memory for springback, providing structure and volume to the finished product.
The natural crimp and thicker fibres of Strong Wool
Where Does Strong Wool Come From?
Strong wool is primarily produced by breeds of sheep known for their robust fleeces, such as:
Romney Sheep: Farmed in New Zealand and England, they are known for their bright, durable wool.
Coopworth Sheep: A New Zealand breed prized for its strong, lustrous wool.
Border Leicester Sheep: Produces long, strong wool fibres.
New Zealand is a major producer of strong wool, with its sheep grazing on expansive pastures that support high-quality fibre growth.
Is Strong Wool Fire Retardant?
Yes, wool is naturally fire retardant, making it perfect for placing in home and work environments for safety purposes. However, it can be flammable if wool is blended with petrochemically derived fibres or scoured chemically.
Always ensure that your strong wool is sourced from a supplier that does not do either of these practices and if you are unsure, take a match to it, if it smoulders…. it is good! If it readily bursts into flames…. It is not.
Of course, we should take all necessary health and safety measures when doing this test.
What Is Strong Wool Used For?
Strong wool’s resilience and versatility make it ideal for a range of products:
1. Mattress Construction & Bedding
Strong wool fibres are thicker and more robust providing superior compressional resilience and excellent long-lasting support, comfort layers and sustainability. Wool’s ability to moisture-wick and thermoregulate provides a comfortable climate for the sleeper in hot and cold temperatures and ensures a better quality of sleep.
2. Quilting & Crafting Industry
Strong Wool Blanketing/batting is the ideal insulation layer for quilting, offering a natural solution in a variety of lofts and gsm’s to suit all climates and is an excellent choice for either hand tufting/quilting or machine quilting projects.
3. Upholstery and Furnishings
Strong wool adds a natural, breathable comfort and longevity to chairs, couches, and cushions.
4. Carpets and Rugs
Its durability and natural crimp provide softness underfoot while withstanding heavy use.
5. Industrial Applications
Strong wool fibres are used in felts, filters, and other technical textiles.
The Environmental Benefits of Strong Wool
Renewable Resource: Sheep regrow their fleece annually, making wool an endlessly renewable material.
Biodegradable: Strong wool decomposes naturally, enriching the soil rather than polluting it.
Energy Efficiency: Wool production has a lower environmental footprint compared to synthetic alternatives.
Reduced Microplastics: Unlike synthetic materials, wool does not shed microplastics into waterways.
Removal of toxic off-gassing: Unlike synthetics, wool does not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which makes a safer environment for consumers.
Top 5 reasons to Choose Strong Wool?
1. Versatility
From home goods to industrial applications, strong wool adapts to a wide range of uses.
2. Durability
Its toughness ensures long-lasting performance, reducing the need for replacements.
3. Comfort
Strong wool is superior to synthetics in moisture wicking, breathability, odour reduction, and hypoallergenic properties.
4. Sustainability
Strong wool supports eco-conscious living, aligning with efforts to reduce plastic and chemical waste.
5. Natural Characteristics
Wool is naturally fire retardant, breathable, can wick moisture, regulate temperature and resist odour. It is a wonder fibre.
In Summary
Strong wool is a remarkable natural fibre that balances durability, functionality, and sustainability. Whether used in carpets, mattress construction, bedding, quilting and crafts or furniture upholstery, it provides a tough yet eco-friendly solution for modern living.
Discover the potential of strong wool for your home or projects.