The fashionista

RUTH RANDS IS THE FOUNDER OF BRITISH KNITWEAR BRAND HERD

Most sheep in the UK are bred for food rather than wool. The wool is a by-product – but that’s a mistake. The common Bluefaced Leicester has an incredibly fine fleece, making it soft and breathable, and it has a wonderful sheen.

At Herd, our knitwear is made of 100 per cent Bluefaced Leicester yarn from farms in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire. The manufacturing process happens within 150 miles of the sheep. We began in 2020 with 500 kilos of wool from four farmers. Today, we buy from about 35.

Much of the wool produced in Britain is shipped abroad, while the knitwear we buy in shops has often travelled 17,500 miles to get here. That wool has been grown in Australia, processed in China, spun in Spain and knitted in Italy.

We want farmers here to feel that their wool is integral to fashion – and valuable. As well as creating knitwear, we also sell our yarns to British brands like Bamford and Navygrey. I would love to welcome more on board. herdwear.co

“We want farmers here to feel that their wool is integral to fashion – and valuable”