Rebuilding the Welsh Wool Story: Suzi Park on Provenance, Progress and Possibility
Across the UK, there is growing interest in where materials come from and how they are made. We sat down with Suzi Park, founder of Cambrian Wool. Whose work over the past decade has focused on rebuilding a stronger, more visible future for Welsh wool.
Through the Cambrian Wool project and her involvement in the wider Welsh wool initiative, Suzi has helped reconnect fibre, makers and markets. While championing the value of traceability, quality, and local supply chains.
Renewed Interest and Traceability in Welsh Wool
Looking back over her years in the industry. Suzi says “one of the biggest changes that I have seen is a large increase in the interest in British and Welsh wool,”
But “also, the traceability scheme offered by British Wool has been a big positive change.”
When Suzi first began working with, us, British Wool around 2014 as part of the Cambrian Mountains Initiative project, traceability simply wasn’t available. At the time, Welsh wool collected through our depots was pooled into the wider British clip rather than being recognised as a distinct product.
“When we first started working with British wool for the Cambrian Mountains Initiative project, there was no traceability scheme in place. The project at the time was to see whether we could ‘track the journey’ of Welsh wool from farm to depot, so that we could have it processed and return it to Wales.”
“One of the biggest changes is the fact that there is a full traceability scheme at British Wool now and the farms that supply my fibre can be identified,” Suzi explains. “The farms also benefit in a small way through additional payment per kilo from supplying me via that scheme.”
Developing a Premium Yarn
That connection between farm and finished product sits at the heart of the Cambrian Wool story.
“Cambrian Wool is a premium product. British Wool helped identify the best fibre that we could have for our yarn. The fibre is processed for worsted spinning which makes it a superior.”
Initially, the yarn was developed for the hand-knitting market — a community that values provenance, quality, and natural fibres. Once that market was established, Suzi began exploring whether the yarn could also work for woven textiles.
“A few years later, I worked with my spinner in Yorkshire to add twist to the yarn to see if it could be suitable for weaving. The trials were successful and I have been lucky enough to supply the wool for a blanket for Burberry.”
The same yarn has also been used in Cambrian Wool’s own blanket range and in collaborative projects with other textile producers. A finer yarn developed through the project has even found its way into luxury design.
“We have successfully spun a finer count which, in collaboration with Melin Tregwynt, has been supplied for a blanket for JW Anderson.”
Strengthening the Welsh Supply Chain
Yet despite these successes, Suzi remains focused on the bigger picture. Rebuilding a stronger Welsh supply chain that allows Welsh wool to be used more widely within traditional Welsh textile production.
“Whilst British wool is all good, we would like to have traditional double cloth Welsh blankets woven in Welsh wool.”
Historically, Wales had around 300 woollen mills but today only 5 commercial mills remain. Older industry studies note that the bulk of raw wool used by Welsh mills was not exclusively Welsh wool. Instead, much of it consisted of New Zealand crossbred wool and other imported blended, due to demands for a finer yarn.
“The project has been to see if we can find suitable fibre for a woollen spun yarn, slightly finer than Cambrian wool, and at a mid-price bracket.”
Finding that balance between quality, price, and fibre characteristics has proved challenging, but the ambition remains clear.
“It has been proving a little difficult, but we are still working on it. It would be fabulous if all Welsh blankets which are woven in Wales could be woven with 100% Welsh wool.”
The Evolving Role of Women in Welsh Wool
Alongside this technical and commercial work, Suzi is also seeing “there are a number of women in the industry working in many different fields. From smallholders producing their own wool from their flocks to designers and makers using local Welsh wool.”
Women also play a major role in the customer base for wool products.
“Many of our end users are women, although there are many male hand knitters around.”
“We have an understanding of what this market needs.” For Suzi, that insight is important in navigating the complexity of the wool supply chain while maintaining clear values.
“The whole supply chain is fairly complicated, but we have transparency, ethics and quality first and foremost in our minds.”
A Vision for Welsh Wool
Looking ahead, her vision for Welsh wool is both practical and hopeful.
“For me, success would be a Welsh wool yarn on the market that could be used for traditional blankets and other products with a full colour supported stock range.”
At the same time, she believes consumers are becoming more interested in provenance. Something Welsh wool is well placed to offer.
“The general public needs to understand that Welsh wool and British wool can be beautiful and hardwearing and, in the case of Cambrian wool particularly, also very soft.”
Ultimately, the future of Welsh wool depends on both supply and demand working together.
“Provenance seems to be more important to consumers nowadays and local Welsh wool should be something that eventually anyone can buy. Increasing visibility of this wonderful product is what I would like to see over the next ten years, backed up with a healthy supply chain producing Welsh wool.”
And, she adds, “any successful future must include a good and fair price for quality fibre being paid to the farmers is always at the forefront of any successful outcome. The more people that want and buy Welsh wool, the more likely it is that the farmer will receive a good return.”
See more of Suzi’s work on her website – cambrianwool.co.uk
