A Welsh organic wool company is expanding its operations to meet global demand for its high-quality, ethical yarn. Garthenor Organic, which designs and manufactures organic yarns in Cardigan, is opening a new woollen mill creating six jobs following a £500,000 investment from the Development Bank of Wales.
The business, owned by mother-and-son team Sally Davies and Jonny King, took over a new 21,000 sq ft unit at Mwldan Business Park last year and has been gradually moving in its worsted spinning machinery which will produce their organic wool yarn. The firm currently employs two people but plans to take on more staff once the mill is in full production by early May to meet increasing global demand for Welsh wool.
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The owners also hope to attract further grant support going forward in addition to the investment from the Development Bank of Wales.
Creative director Mr King, who joined the business five years ago, said: “Our mission is to run a mill at a scale that will make a big difference to the Welsh wool industry. Demand for our yarn is so high that we have hundreds of shops around the world on a waiting list.
He added: “Hopefully, when the mill is in full production, we can go some way to meeting this demand. Our mission is to produce totally organic, stunningly sustainable yarn.”
Garthenor Organic was first set up by sheep farmer Ms Davies at her home near Tregaron in 1999. By 2003, the business had become the first company in the world to produce fully-certified organic wool yarns.
Until last year, the company was sending its organic fleeces to Yorkshire and Scotland to be spun, however the Covid-19 pandemic persuaded the company to do the spinning itself.
Mr King said: “Customers worldwide are captivated by the story of our little nation that grows great wool but doesn’t do much with it. In its heyday, in the mid-19th century, Wales had hundreds of woollen mills but competition from England and the advent of cheaper synthetic textiles hammered the industry.
“There is now a resurgence, with people looking for quality fabrics and textiles in clothing that is sustainable and has a good story. It’s an exciting time for the Welsh wool industry because there are so many amazing companies in Wales that are doing great things."
He added: “We aim to be the best in the industry and maintain an exceptional level of care for our animals and our planet. We truly value the immortality of wool and want to raise awareness of this. It is so important to us that we are working with such a renewable, recyclable, reusable fibre.”
“Quality Welsh wool has huge potential because we have more variety in Wales than anywhere in the UK. If we can source special wool in Wales, we can ensure that farmers are paid a fair price and that products made from the yarn are exported around the world with a ‘Made in Wales’ label. By paying a fair price for wool, it suddenly becomes worthwhile for farmers to breed sheep with their wool in mind.”
The family business will be exhibiting its products at Wonderwool Wales at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on April 22-23 along with 230 other exhibitors.
“The event attracts people from across the world. We have a couple of tour groups from America and Sweden that are coming to visit us after attending Wonderwool Wales,” said Mr King.
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