TONOFWOOL

TONOFWOOL started as a project in 2011, when Kylie was running a small business as a yarn dyer (http://msgusset.etsy.com) whilst studying textiles at RMIT. What shocked her is how the bulk of wool used in the textile industry in Australia was exported for processing - it's close to impossible to find a yarn which hasn't left the country. With much research and the support of a successful crowdfund (http://wool.pozible.com), the first ton of rare breed Cormo wool from the founders of the breed in Tasmania was processed.

BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL:
Breeds of sheep other than Merino in Australia aren't widely known. Thanks to a growing trend in knowing the origins of consumer purchases, crafters are becoming more educated. We wanted to both support and promote Cormo as a great wool to work with, which is grown sustainably, and supports genetic diversity. TONOFWOOL is the first time that Cormo from the founding family has been produced as a commercial product for the domestic knitting and crafting market.

Sustainability:
All wool for the project is being sourced from the Downie farm in Tasmania, which stocks sheep at a lower number than conventional farms, encourages clean native pasture, increased sheep nutrition and excellent soil health. Fly strike is less of an issue on the farm due to low temperatures, so mulesing isn't as common - the fleeces selected for TONOFWOOL are from non mulesed sheep.
TONOFWOOL is produced as locally as possible - with scouring (cleaning) in Australia, processing and spinning in New Zealand, storage and distribution from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Around 80% of Australian wool is processed in China, so TONOFWOOL is our small dent in that statistic, improving carbon footprint.

Social Responsibility:
We take every care to ensure that everyone within the supply chain is paid fairly. We pay well above the market price for wool, acknowledging the work and story behind the "Dungrove" farm.