Wl Industry in Australia - Report Example

Wооl Rероrt Name Subject Professor Date Wооl Rероrt Introduction The Australian wool industry is quite an essential element in the country’s economy. For several years, wool has remained to be a significant product to the Australian economy. The industry started back in 1797 when Spanish merino sheep was imported in an attempt to commence a wool industry in the country. Although it took a relatively long time for the industry to peak, it was a success when it finally did. This is an aspect that made a majority of pastoralists and squatters incalculably wealthy. The wool business was booming by the 1880s an up to date; wool is a valuable tool of trade in the country. Australia is known for the production of the Australian merino wool, which is the world’s best quality woollen fibre. The high quality is attributed to many aspects such as the expertise and experience of the Australian farmers in the selection of superior animals for breeding. The harsh climate in Australia also contributes to the production of strong, clean and fine wool. This piece of paper will give an in depth overview of the Australian wool industry and various aspects associated with it. This will be made possible by the compilation of various observations that were made during the wool tour, class lectures as well as further research on the same. Some of the areas of concern include the wool fibre production, the end uses of the fibres, the sustainable credentials of the fibre as well as evident trends and innovations in the current market. The Wool Fibre Production and Context Wool is a natural, renewable and recyclable fibre that is produced by the Australian merino sheep. Merino wool is widely known for its good quality properties since the Australian wool growers produce the finest wool in the world, using sustainable farming practices. The wool fibre could be understood on a cultural context. According to Wool Producers Australia (n.d), wool has become indispensible when it comes to leading fashion brands. Its quality has also seen luxury houses embrace wool as the fabric of the future. Wool is also used in making of traditional woollen attires. Over time, in different cultures and geographical locations of the world, sheep rearing has been in a position to fulfil the livelihood needs for communities. Long lasting wool has been a fibre of great significance. Wool has always been a handy medium for artistic and cultural expression. Wool allows for the weaving together of the artistic and practical expression into one aesthetic whole. Also, practices such as spinning, knitting, sculpting and weaving offered a way through which families and communities created beauty and meaning through a material they identified with (Heartfelt Collection, 2017). It is worth noting that even though sheep have been domesticated for a long time and from generation to generation, the sheep did not have wool until later when the people were in a position to breed sheep that could have more hair that would be spun. This was around 5000BC. Before then, sheep was only kept for meat and milk. Before wool was used for clothing, people used fur. Wool fibre is significant as a result of its range of uses and high quality. It is used by different people such as garment designers and carpenters. Wool has many uses. For instance; it is used in the fashion sector by fashion designers as it is preferred for its high quality and versatility. Its natural qualities that go beyond its softness is an aspect that makes wool a highly desirable fibre for many purposes. For instance, wool benefits from natural breathability and keeps people warm in winter and at the same time cool in summer. It is also in a position to benefit from anti-odour and anti-static properties, it drapes beautifully and does not crease and keeps its colour and shrugs off stains when washed (Rowe, 2010, p. 993). Apart from clothing, wool is used for blankets, carpeting, insulation, floor covering, and wall material and felt among other uses. Made How (2017) argues that various processes and procedures are used in making wool. In one way or the other, the processes involved affect the wool’s end use. Shearing is the first process and is done once a year to get fleece, which is kept in one piece. The next procedure entails grading and sorting. Grading involves breaking up the fleece according to quality. On the other hand, sorting involves breaking up the wool into sections of various quality fibres, got from different body parts. Apparently, the best quality wool is from the shoulders and side of the sheep and it is mostly used for clothing while the lesser quality is from the lower legs and is utilized in making of rugs. Cleaning and scouring is the next process. Here, raw wool is scoured to remove dirt, sand and grease through a series of alkaline baths. Scouring machines and rollers are used to compress excess water from the fleece (Made How, 2017). The wool is them treated with oil to make it manageable. Carding is the fourth step whereby the fibres are straightened and blended into slivers as they pass through a series of metal teeth. Residual dirt is also removed. The carded wool meant for worsted yarn is passed through gilling and combing to remove short fibres and put the longer fibres parallel to each other. The next process is spinning whereby fibres are spun together to make one strand of yarn that is then spun with other strands. The spun yarn is then wrapped around bobbins, commercial drums or cones. Weaving then takes place and the yarn is woven into fabric. The last step is finishing which involves woollens and worsteds going through a series of procedures such as fulling, crabbing, and decating and sometimes dyeing (Made How, 2017). Source; http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Wool.html Source; http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Wool.html Wool has always undergone through some processes until it is ready for use. Most of the procedures have remained the same but with advancement of times and technology, these processes have also changed. For instance, although shearing is still done by hand, there has been the development of new technology whereby computers and robot-controlled arms aid in clipping. Technology has made most of these processes easier than it was before, without technology. Wool and Sustainability Today, the aspect of sustainability is not to be ignored or underrated. Every individual, group or organization should be conscious of the processes and activities they are involved in and ensure they work towards maintaining sustainability. Sustainability entails avoiding the depletion of natural resources as a way of maintaining an ecological balance. Biological systems are supposed to be maintained in such a way that they remain productive and diverse. To a large extent, wool and its production are sustainable. This is more so since it is natural, renewable and biodegradable. The Australian merino wool is natural fibre grown all year round. Grazing is done on extensive grassland terrain. The fact that wool is made up of a natural protein (keratin), which is biodegradable is a positive aspect of sustainability (Hatcher, Hynd, Thornberry and Gabb, 2010, p.1093). This means that when disposed, the wool decomposes easily and releases valuable nutrients back to the earth. On the face, wool and its production seem sustainable since it comes from nature. Nonetheless, there is more to this. According to Biggemann, Williams and Kro (2014, p.307), there are some issues that the Australian wool industry faces with regard to sustainability. These include water use, land use, mule-sing, chemical use and climate change. Raising and breeding of sheep necessitates food and land. There is also water usage in terms of consumption by sheep as well as use during production or manufacture. Chemicals are also used in the production of wool, fabrics and yarns. The wool industry could engage in some activities and strategies aimed at reconciling the above named issues. For instance, it is advisable that the sheep farmers do not in any way lead to desertification or engage in mule-sing. Getting wool from nations where there is plenty of water and sheep farming translate to good use of land is also a positive attribute. There is also a need to work with suppliers and manufacturers to minimize the impact of dyes and chemicals. Some changes that could in one way or the other enhance sustainable wool production in the future include the following. Grazing requires extensive land and with overpopulation, grasslands could be exhausted. There should therefore be strategies aimed at reducing desertification. There should also be alternatives to mule-sing. Sheep produce methane and it is therefore a health hazard that should be looked into. With respect to chemical use, there should be the implementation of initiatives and compliance schemes that work towards minimizing the use of the bad chemicals. These could include Greenpeace and REACH (Guercini and Ranfagni, 2013, p. 84). Working together with manufacturers and suppliers could also help in reducing toxicity related to wool production. It is apparent that wool has many benefits and as such, it is not easy or right to just its elimination. For this reason, it is better to embrace it and ensure that better farming practices with regard to ethics and the environment are observed. Also, few chemicals should be used in processing as a way of enhancing sustainability. Positive changes should be encouraged under all costs. ​Trends, Innovation and the Future​ Currently, the wool industry is a boom and doing well, especially in Australia. The future for wool is bright too. As mentioned earlier in this paper, wool has many uses and one of them is the health and well-being of individuals. Nonetheless, this is an aspect that is surrounded by controversy on the effect it has especially on skin. For instance, some site allergies but there is no evidence indicating that cool fibres could cause allergic reactions. The benefits are however quite obvious and confirmed for example keeping the body warm in winter and cool in summer. Wool garments also have less intense odour after wear compared to other fabrics and also offer benefits during exercise by allowing adaptation to the changed environment, which is made possible by slowing thermo-physiological responses (Laing and Swan, 2016, p.29). Trends are an essential aspect in the business sector as they determine what is done by all for instance in terms of fashion. It is also a determinant of innovation in a given sector. Rowe (2010, p.992) asserts that some of the merino innovations include touch whereby softness and luxury in merino wool is a factor of consideration. This could include silky touch jerseys and mercerised merino. Another innovation is functionality whereby the wool is expected to provide extra benefits for the consumer for example wool denim. There is also the visual aspect where new looks and textures particularly for casual wear are desirable. Examples include sculptures merino and vintage merino yarns and knits. Innovations in wool can take different forms; all aimed at adding value to the fibre, yarn or even the end product. According to Smith, Cavanagh, Copp and Condon (2016), the wool industry has a bright present and future despite the fact that it has faced major slump in production. Although the production is relatively low, wool tends to out-perform other products. The characteristics of wool and its many benefits are a plus when it comes to its sustainability. This translates to the fact that it has a future. The fact that wool is green, sustainable and clean should be accentuated in the future. Its suitability in insulation and making of sportswear is also a reason why wool should not be forgotten or done away with (Australian Wool Innovation Limited, 2017). However, some changes could be needed to save the industry from deteriorating further but instead keep it relevant. Another positive aspect with regard to the future of the wool industry in Australia is that the young people are now in support of the industry. For a long time, the industry was perceived as an old fashioned fibre but now, young individuals are interested in careers in the industry. Wool may not qualify as a passing fashion but for how long it will be relevant is dependent on various factors such as positive changes that may be effected. Conclusion It is apparent that wool is a major commodity in the Australian economy. The wool industry is extensive and involves a great number of the nation’s population. Wool is clean, renewable and biodegradable. These characteristics are desirable and make it sustainable to a large extent. Wool has many uses, the major one being clothing whereby it is used in the fashion industry. Other uses include insulation, carpets, and floor and wall materials. It is also an artistic tool and is used to make traditional attires and brings communities together. Various processes and procedures are involved in the production of wool, each being important in bringing out the end product. They include shearing, grading and sorting, cleaning and scouring, carding, spinning, weaving, and finishing. Different innovations have been experienced and the future of the industry seems bright especially if positive changes are to be effected. This is despite the fact that there has been a decline in wool production. References Australian Wool Innovation Limited. 2017. Sheep Health Welfare & Productivity. Available [Online] from https://www.wool.com/on-farm-research-and-development/sheep-health-welfare-and-productivity/[Accessed 16 Apr. 17] Biggemann, S., Williams, M. and Kro, G., 2014. Building in sustainability, social responsibility and value co-creation. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 29(4), pp.304-312. Guercini, S. and Ranfagni, S., 2013. Sustainability and luxury. The Italian case of a supply chain based on native wool. J Corp Citiz, 52, pp.76-89. Hatcher, S., Hynd, P.I., Thornberry, K.J. and Gabb, S., 2010. Can we breed Merino sheep with softer, whiter, more photostable wool?. Animal Production Science, 50(12), pp.1089-1097. Heartfelt Collection. 2017. Wool culture. Available [Online] from http://heartfeltcollective.com/the-magic-of-wool/wool-culture/ [Accessed 16 Apr. 17] Laing, R. and Swan, P., 2016. Wool in Human Health and Well-Being. In Natural Fibres: Advances in Science and Technology Towards Industrial Applications (pp. 19-34). Springer Netherlands. Made How. 2017. Wool. Available [Online] from http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Wool.html[Accessed 16 Apr. 17] Smith, Cavanagh, Copp and Condon. 2016. Wool conference highlights bright industry outlook despite major slump in production. Available [Online] from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-07/wool-conference-talks-about-bright-future/7306672 [Accessed 16 Apr. 17] Rowe, J.B., 2010. The Australian sheep industry–undergoing transformation. Animal Production Science, 50(12), pp.991-997. Wool Producers Australia. n.d. Need tools to help drive profitability and productivity on-farm? Available [Online] from http://www.woolproducers.com.au/[Accessed 16 Apr. 17] Read More