FAQs
Asterlark Wool and Production
Wool that causes you to itch is typically due to the diameter of the fiber, which is measured in microns. The smaller the fiber the softer it feels. Merino wool is prized for its low micron measurements, and is among the smallest diameter for all sheep breeds, typically from 18 to 24 microns. Our newer throws are made with 21 micron Fine Merino, while our older throws sourced from Portugal are typically 24 microns.
Our wool is collected from small herds across Europe.
Sheep need to be sheared to stay clean and healthy. Sheep can be injured during this process if it's not done properly and without regard for the well-being of the animal. Because we collect wool from small farms, the animals are well cared for and shearing is performed by hand (as opposed to machines). Mulesing or chemical dipping is not performed.
We only sell environmentally sustainable, plastic-free fiber products, such as wool, cotton, and flax linen. Synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, are petroleum based fibers. Unlike natural fibers which will completely break down into the elements of which they're composed, synthetic fibers don't biodegrade. Large quantities of microplastics are released into our environment during the production and during every wash of a item made from plastics. A paper published in 2011 found that these microfibers made up 85% of human-made debris on shorelines around the world.
As sheep regrow their fleece annually, wool is a renewable resource. Our sustainable sourced cotton is primarily from Turkey, and we purposefully use surplus and remnant cotton from apparel production facilities. The production process of textiles also uses a lot of water. We use captured rainwater in the finishing (washing) process for our products.
Care Instructions
Check out blog post on cleaning your wool blanket.
Wool naturally resists dirt, dust, and spills, so a clean cloth can be used to soak up a stain or spill. Wool is also antimicrobial so it won’t collect and retain smells like other fabrics.