Our business, McLean & Co weaves contemporary textiles using New Zealand wool and traditional tweed and tartan patterns. Our textiles are limited edition, created in an ethical and sustainable manner; valuing the looms, the woollen fibre we use, and the people we work and interact with.
Rod and I choose to weave woollen cloth. Wool is an exceptional fibre. A common fibre with superb attributes of being sustainable, resilient, absorbent, insulative, biodegradable, useful and reusable.
The Campaign for Wool is an initiative we are proud to support. It is a global initiative that aims to highlight wool as a fibre that is an eco-friendly, comfortable, fashionable and durable option to cheaper and more disposable alternatives.
Research commissioned by Prince Charles suggested that wool and its outstanding characteristics had been forgotten due to the rise in popularity of synthetic fibres and the rush to embrace all things new. As a serious environmentalist, the Prince believes that the natural, sustainable and highly technical abilities of wool can offer fashion, interiors and the built environment a host of superior benefits, while helping to care for the planet.
Although neither of us grew up on sheep farms, we both have an affinity with this amazing fibre. Rod has woven everything from chunky hand-spun like yarn, to the finest 15 micron naturally coloured South Island Merino. Every warp is different. Every yarn different. Each has its own characteristics, some naturally occurring, and some created during the spinning process, for example, whether it is worsted or woollen spun, it’s weight and tex, whether it has been dyed, or is chemically shrink resist treated. And with each new warp the loom must be tuned to ensure even tension and hassle-free weaving. That takes skill and patience, and Rod has plenty of both!
Weaving with wool is what we do - we love it.