It wasn’t too long ago that up to half of all Finnish sheep wool ended up in the landfill. However, thanks to spirited advocates and growing public awareness, wool is experiencing a new heyday. Lapuan Kankurit helms the movement of utilizing this domestic treasure to its full potential.
Mankind has used wool for protection from the elements for thousands of years, and it’s no wonder why: its qualities include natural renewability, recyclability, durability as well as dirt and water repellency. Due to its insulative properties, wool provides both warmth during colder temperatures and cooling in the heat, all the while staying comfortable and breathable.
The ancestors of the Finnish sheep arrived here some 4000 years ago, quickly securing their place as a permanent fixture of the traditional rural setting. As nature’s own keepers, domestic sheep improve the biodiversity of the pastures they graze on, prevent soil erosion, and maintain the environment for local flora and fauna to thrive in. The sheep are well cared for on family farms where harsh chemicals and unethical practices such as mulesing are not utilized. Lapuan Kankurit collects the unprocessed wool directly from local farms that meet the company’s strict criteria concerning the welfare of sheep, people and nature alike.
To be “all wool and no shoddy” means to be first-class, top tier, of the highest quality. To us, that means Finnsheep wool. Supremely versatile and among the softest of the Northern sheep, Finnsheep wool is an ethical choice without an equal. Choosing domestic wool products is an act of support not only for the local production and traditional Finnish craftsmanship, but also for the very nature herself.
Wool finishing facility – the only one of its kind in Finland
Building our very own wool finishing facility in Lapua meant creating something unique on a nationwide scale. Our continuously operating washing, milling, drying, and raising facility is the only one of its kind in Finland, allowing us unprecedented control over the entire wool production line.
Our ERP keeps track of the origin of the wool fibres, making our products more traceable than ever before. The expanding vertical production line means we pull the strings, enabling us to develop new innovations such as utilizing plant dyes on an industrial scale, as well as new types of qualities for wool blankets and scarves. And it’s all happening right here in our home base in Lapua.
Text: Jenna Suomela
Photos: Katja Lösönen
Choosing domestic wool products is an act of support not only for the local production and traditional finnish craftmanship, but also for the very nature herself.
