About
TirolWool

Shearing /ʃɪ́ːrɪŋ/

Both the act and result of the said action. The way in which the fleece is removed from a sheep’s body and from other four-legged animal bodies with wool, or from other long-haired animals. TirolWool® is sheared at two different points in the year: in the spring and in the autumn. It is a time of celebration and coming together for all the alpine valleys.

Wool /wʉ́l/

A textile fibre of animal origin, especially that which comes from the fleece of sheep or the hair of other animals: sheep, goat or camel wool. The term can be used to refer to the animal hair and yarn obtained from it, as well as the resulting fabric. In particular, Tyrol and the Val di Funes (South Tyrol) wool comes from sheep that graze freely. Generally, the farmer or shepherd who raises them abides by a tradition that includes maintaining a mountain farmstead, along with the surrounding territory and the well-being of the sheep. Wool can absorb the humidity produced by physical activity and then slowly wick it away. It is also unrivalled when it comes to regulating body heat, as there is no other natural fibre that is as competitive or sustainable.

Carding /kɑ́ːdɪŋ /

Untangling the textile fibres and aligning them in the same direction, while removing any impurities. The wool that Salewa uses in its products is processed in Italy with state-of-the-art machinery.

Future /fjʉ́wʧə/

That which relates to the course of time after the present: future life. Between the 1950s and 1960s, a shift occurred as people moved from the mountains to work for companies in the city. For at least one generation, part of the culture and knowledge around wool was lost. Fortunately, in recent years, younger generations have been rediscovering and becoming more interested in this type of work. They have gone back to maintain their grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ land, in some cases even rearing animals and managing to make an income from it. Our hope for the future is that the values learnt at work will be passed down: the passion, commitment, satisfaction and sacrifice that is needed to maintain this kind of work for many families and many generations, both past and future.

Tradition /trədɪ́ʃən/

All of the memories, news and stories passed down from one generation to another. Together with its partners, Salewa aims to acknowledge and reward not only the people who make its products, but also those who advance activities in the countryside, hillside and mountains. By committing to this counter-trend and asking these people to go back to making smaller, yet extremely special batches of wool, key traditions are preserved. This brings fulfilment, pleasure and pride to a lot of people.

Weaving /wɪ́jvɪŋ/

A series of processes (artisanal or industrial) connected to manufacturing fabrics. Essentially, these processes aim to interweave a series of parallel threads with a continuous thread in order to create a pre-selected weave, which is performed on looms. Our woollen hats and accessories are made using an exceptional specialised process which, in addition to ensuring that they are pleasant to touch, guarantees high qualitcy in the long term.