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Merino wool, from sheep of the same name raised in the Arles region, provides a soft, supple wool that regulates perspiration. But there is only one weaving factory left on French territory. What is his future ?
Unequaled finesse and softness. Merino d’Arles is an exceptional wool fallene obsolete. Some want to relaunch this quality sector. In the plains of Salon-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) in particular, this is where merino ewes flourish, sheep introduced more than 200 years in the country of Arles. The French market collapsed in the 1950s with the arrival of synthetics, And spinning mills disappear from the territory, because wool is no longer profitable.
Wool sold for 2 euros per kilo in China
It is currently sold to China for less than two euros per kilo. There is only one factory left in France that knows how to work with Arles fiber. The company Vaucluse has positioned itself at the top of the rangee. The manufacturer buys the wool between 15 and 17 kilos, and every year he buys 70 tons. But this is not enough to sustain an entire industry. Nevertheless, theinitiatives are multiplying to relancer the industry, we sometimes bet on 100% Merino d’Arles clothing. Etcsome consumers are once again interested in local materials, a godsend for the 700 French Merino sheep breeders.
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