“ The key to the success of the Campaign is that we have a Patron who is passionate about the wool business from sheep farm through the long stages of manufacturing and right on to the shop floor .”
John Thorley , Chairman of the Campaign for Wool
matically , but so would so much more — to the detriment of us all .”
The launch of a major wool campaign had an inauspicious start but an appropriate one , in a barn — albeit a very beautiful one !
The textile industry — caught off guard – gathered in the draughty space and waited to meet the Prince , who slipped in wearing a wool coat and a big smile — “ I bet you all wish you had worn wool now !” He said to the rapt audience .
However , his keynote speech — to a gathering that included some of the world ’ s best-known users of wool — left no one cold . Here was their Prince — the future King of Great Britain – and he wanted to build a campaign . . . one that any business or consumer anywhere in the world could participate in . This was the beginning — a wool revolution had been born and a Prince had started it .
Three years down the line , it has impressively spread across continents , gaining support and gathering pace .
Sheep have since graced many a venue as the retailer sees the benefit of having the origin of the story in prime position . Savile Row — the universally acknowledged home of elegance in suit tailoring — stopped the traffic in central London , rolled out the turf and brought in two flocks of sheep with their tweed-clad shepherds for a day . This set the trend , and sheep have appeared all over the place since .
There have been yellow sheep and psychedelic sheep , sheep with knitted scarves and occasionally there was just a fluffy white sheep . But the windows of stores across the retail world have taken this humble countryside creature and made it a star .
The Prince ’ s ambition is realised in many events — wool fashion exhibitions , wool street art , wool cars and wool schools , too ! Small events rub alongside some very major promotions — it all works because this is truly a campaign for the people !
The Campaign is like a movement because it works on a simple philosophy of encouraging involvement and support from all levels of the wool industry — retailers , colleges , architects , designers and fashion people galore . This cumulative activity will spread its simple message to choose wool . And in doing so , ensure that the sheep can always graze peacefully across the world providing us all with their wonderful wool . �
The Campaign ’ s launch at Wimpole Hall Farm . John Thorley , Chairman , Campaign for Wool . The Prince meets the industry .
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