03. Our countries
Hello knitters and cheer up!
Today I would like to talk to you about the countries where the yarns offered by Wolly Roger come from.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is a vast and beautiful country. Its surface area is twice that of France, but it is also half the population. With its three capitals and 11 official languages, the country, nicknamed the "rainbow nation," is renowned for its merino sheep and angora goat breeding (60% of the world's mohair production is South African), and cotton is also grown there. South Africa is remarkable for its extremely rich fauna and flora: with four distinct climates and varied landscapes (coasts, plains, mountains), there is a great diversity of ecosystems.
Miriam Makeba 's homeland is also infamous for its racial segregation policy, apartheid , which tore the country apart and created significant social disparities. A decades-long struggle, led by figures such as Stephen Biko and Nelson Mandela , overcame this system of systemic racism. Despite the time and effort devoted to restoring social balance, black people are more affected by unemployment than other ethnic groups in the country.
With this in mind, it was impossible for us not to support the approach of Bridget Henderson, founder of Cowgirl Blues, which was to enable Black women (the most disadvantaged demographic in terms of employment) to find a career. While contributing to the building of social justice, Bridget also contributes to the advancement of the animal cause since the merino wool used by Cowgirl Blues is guaranteed mulesing-free according to South African standards.
ALSACE
I can already hear some people shouting that Alsace is not a country, that it is only a region. I would retort to those people that Alsace is much more than a part of France, it is the land of your humble servant, with a complex and fascinating history. Located between the Vosges and the Rhine, Alsace is a region with Franco-Germanic influences which reminds you surely first and foremost white wine and storks. We won't hold it against you at all, on the contrary, we are rather proud of our vines, but we are just as proud of Auguste Bartholdi . Sometimes German, sometimes French, the nation controlling Alsace has always sought to erase the historical and cultural ties connecting it to the other nation. But the Alsatians have been able to face this adversity by remaining united, thus creating a unique identity.
Alsace knows how to be changeable, to be plain, mountainous and even humpbacked! Home to both the largest European institutions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its capital Strasbourg is the first cycling city in France , not surprising, you might say, for a city where half of the inhabitants are under 30 and have been strongly sensitive to environmental issues. No, really, this small region has everything a big one has !
And since Wolly Roger is a pirate proud of his heritage, it was only natural to promote Alsatian wool! We are proud to work with the Attali farm , whose manager, Catherine Attali, is the winner of several awards recognizing her work (and that of her parents) and her eco-responsible approach.
ARGENTINA
The second largest country in South America (after Brazil), its territory extends over more than 5,000 km from north to south and has altitude differences ranging from 100 to 7,000 m, and some of its territories (Pampas, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, etc.) are often mentioned in popular imagery. With such a vast area, of course, there are many climates: semi-arid, subtropical, desert, tundra, oceanic, etc., enough to support a very varied fauna and flora.
But how can I talk to you about this country without mentioning Maradona and Messi, the gaucho , Argentinian wine (as with wool, Argentina is, to this day, the 5th largest wine producer in the world) and of course the tango ? Impossible of course! Whether it's music, sport or gastronomy, Argentina is a country that is always at the forefront of the scene. Argentina also benefited from a significant melting pot due to the arrival of many migrants in the 19th century (hence this Spanish infused with Italian ).
It was also during this period that the Argentine wool industry experienced its boom and not only did Argentina do a lot, it also did well: it is currently one of the leading countries in terms of GOTS wool, which guarantees a certain number of practices that we will develop in a dedicated article.
That's why Wolly Roger has partnered with BC Garn, whose goal has always been to produce yarns that respect the environment and people, and whose GOTS-certified yarns come from Argentina. Northern Lights GOTS and Bio Balance GOTS yarns are our favorites: versatile and ethical, they offer organic knitting for everyone, all year round! Fans of thicker, rustic wool can roll up their sleeves in Erika Knight's fantastic Big Vintage Wool GOTS !
FRANCE
When we talk about France, we often think of the hexagon, but France is an intercontinental state and present in all the world's oceans. While the mainland has an oceanic, Mediterranean and continental climate, overseas territories broaden the range, with climates ranging from polar to equatorial . The borders of metropolitan France are mostly natural borders: river, ocean, mountain range, a varied topography for equally varied climates! As part of the conservation and enhancement of heritage, France has chosen to protect certain sites: nature reserves and regional natural parks .
For some, France is synonymous with baguette, stinky cheese and sausage, all washed down with red wine. But not only that, we are also said to be dirty, unfaithful and rude (it's not me who says it, it's Pixar ). And please friends, stop complaining while reading this article: you are feeding another stereotype about yourself ^^ Let's ignore these clichés and look at things from a new angle: "dirty", we invented the biggest perfume houses in the world, "unfaithful" because we are simply irresistible, as for "rude"... well, is it really a fault? And then it's with insanities that we make the right expressions , you bunch of rascals!
So, yes, how can you resist the temptation to work with one of the oldest spinning and dyeing mills in France? Impossible, sailor! Fonty has been promoting local wool since 1880 and has developed an extraordinary catalog for our greatest pleasure. Because being a responsible citizen also means investing in the know-how of your country, we say YES to Fonty and its ethical commitments!
INDIA
India is the 7th The largest country in the world, its population represents 18% of the world's population. It is a country with a monsoon climate, a set of winds that causes significant storms: this is the result of the strong temperature contrasts between the land and the ocean. This season is both vital for the country and extremely destructive, in fact, the irrigation of many cultivated lands depends on it, but torrential rainfall sometimes causes landslides that devastate cities.
Culturally, India is known for being and having been the land of many Western fantasies: from hippies to movie buffs to musicians . With its 22 official languages, the land of Norah Jones's father is also the cradle of some of the oldest civilizations in the world and the birthplace of major religions, based on non-violence (ahiṃsā in Sanskrit). This concept of benevolence came to us in Europe (as well as in South Africa ) through Gandhi and although we are not competent to talk about spirituality at Wolly Roger, this notion seemed essential to us because it is, in part, a pillar of our ethics.
At Wolly Roger, we are lovers of beautiful fibers, but we are not prepared to do anything to obtain them: the Indian silk in our products is ahiṃsā silk, which comes from wild animals (tussah). The silkworms are not killed during the silk recovery process, having been able to escape from their cocoon beforehand. Jaipur peace silk or Northern Light : the best of cruelty-free silk.
PERU
Welcome to Peru, the third - largest country in South America by land area. With 32 million human inhabitants and only 3 million alpacas (which, admittedly, is significantly less), this country had the class to give them their own national day ! Like other countries located in the Andes Mountains, Peru's landscapes are diverse: Amazon rainforest, ocean coast, and mountains. There are even 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Peru is best known for being the cradle of the Inca civilization, some of whose languages are still spoken today (and counted as LANGUAGES official languages of the country alongside Spanish) , such as Aímara and Quechua . Peru's textile industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries in the country and employs nearly 300,000 people. As for the number of people who have fallen under the spell of chicha , I don't know, but I think there are a lot of us!
It was impossible for us not to offer you a Peruvian alpaca and our choice fell on the Baby Alpaca 10/2 from BC Garn: coming from animals raised outdoors and made in one of the oldest spinning mills in the country (certified Peru Fair Trade), this yarn and its multiple colors have everything to please us!
UNITED KINGDOM
The "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" is made up of 4 nations: Northern Ireland (there was a clue in the title ^^), Scotland, Wales and England. This country is home to some absolutely surprising and varied landscapes, from English plains to Scottish lochs and even some rather... surprising names: try pronouncing Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch !
From Shaun the Sheep to IDLES to Tom Hardy, it would be impossible to describe the devotion your humble servant has for the cultural output of the United Kingdom in recent decades. The oft-referenced Caribbean piracy was, in fact, partly born out of a rebellion by Royal Navy sailors.
In fact, the Royal Navy might never have existed if England hadn't built its economy on the wool trade for centuries . Today, there are over sixty breeds of sheep in the UK, and while Wolly Roger can't offer them all, we can give you a taste of them with wools like Erika Knight's Wool Local , a 100% British wool!
THAILAND
Thailand, formerly known as the Kingdom of Siam, is a land with a monsoon climate (like India, which we discussed earlier). Agricultural life is governed by its winds and rains. It is even the second largest rice exporter in the world. Today, it is a popular destination for tourists wishing to visit some of the islands in the Gulf of Thailand or the largest floating market in the world .
From Muai Thai to the Flower Festival , between peaceful countryside and ultra-modernity, Thailand is a country that has aroused the admiration and fascination of Westerners for decades . This country regularly makes the headlines due to the escapades of its sulphurous king . But Thailand is especially known by lovers of beautiful materials for itstextile know-how , which has allowed many rural women to learn new skills (and increase their income).
It is with this in mind that Wolly Roger has chosen to offer you the very first Peace Silk intended for knitters/crocheters. Cruelty-free and of Thai origin: the Jaipur Peace Silk from BC Garn is harvested with respect for the small Bombyx Eri, which is given time to emerge from its cocoon after its transformation into a butterfly.
URUGUAY
Do you know the saying "to live happily, live hidden"? Uruguay is a country that is quite unknown in Europe and for good reason: this country, surrounded by nations in the grip of frequent crises such as Chile, Argentina or Brazil, is rather stable and peaceful. It is also nicknamed "the Switzerland of Latin America", which says a lot... With its 3.5 million inhabitants (but 3 times more cattle and 5 times more sheep), it is a secular country where European, African and Guarani cultures mix. With so many sheep, it is not surprising that Uruguay is the 8th largest producer of wool in the world!
So of course, we would love to visit one of the many Merino sheep farms that graze freely in Uruguay, but we would also need to make time to go surfing in Punta Del Este ! Still not convinced? Then I will add that the capital where Elli Medeiros was born, Montevideo, is the seat of a carnival that lasts 4 months! Thinking about it, I only have one thing to say to you: Cheers, friends !
Uruguay is also the birthplace of the Malabrigo brand, whose hand-dyed yarns feature shades that evoke nature and names that evoke culture. Travel affordably with our Uruguayan yarns and bring a little bit of this carnival into your life with our Rios and Arroyo yarns!
This list is subject to change and will be updated if it changes.
Hopla, bis ball!
Jessica