FLEECES FROM THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA
Wool is one of the most common materials used for rugmaking because of its extraordinary innate properties. For centuries, nomadic weavers have used wool exclusively to make their rugs – the warp, weft and pile were all made out of wool. As a natural and renewable fiber obtained from the shearing of sheep, wool is a preferred yarn choice due to its resistance and durability while still being soft to the touch. Wool is perfect for dyeing, and, among other properties, it is also an excellent insulator and very resistant to stains and dirt. Because of this, the use of wool facilitates the cleaning process and the maintenance of your rug and therefore prolonging its longevity. Wool is not only warm and comforting but also both water and flame-resistant. Because of all these qualities, wool has been used and woven into textiles, clothes, and rugs over many centuries. As a natural fiber, harvesting wool is more eco-friendly than synthetic fibers as sheep always need to be sheared.
West12 wool rugs are exclusively made with yarns obtained from the fleece of Sarda breed, a domestic sheep indigenous to the island of Sardinia and raised throughout Italy. Since remotest times, the rough, wiry, and waterproof wool of Sardinian sheep has been used to make textiles, rugs, and wall hangings. To this day, Sardinia is home to a flourishing breeding tradition and over four million Sarda sheep roam its sun-kissed pastures, as they have for thousands of years. West12’s wool rugs are exclusively woven with high-quality yarns made from the sheared wool of Sarda sheep which is locally sourced from Sardinian farmers and processed locally on the island of Sardinia.
Our wool stock includes 29 signature colors as well as three all-natural shades: Écru (W01), Light Brown (W02), Dark Brown (W03). These natural colors are the result of a wool blend created by mixing fleeces from both white and black sheep without using any dyeing process.