British Wool is misunderstood.
The industry is in decline.
Our wool is undervalued.
Britain have 30 million sheep and a diverse clip of over 70 breeds - the most diverse in the world.
We have the fourth biggest clip globally and Wales alone is 3 times the size of the US and Canada
The average farm has 500 sheep, the priority is lamb (meat)
The wonders of wool are widely known, naturally sustainable, biodegradable, wellness .. etc
Yet it only accounts for less than 1% of textiles made globally - dwarfed by PLASTIC!
British Wool is NOT Merino (we only have a few Merino Sheep) it is thicker and stronger
Merino is the heart of the Australian & New Zealand industry - fine micron and perfect for garments. They are different, with different uses - both are fabulous.
Our local industrial support system has been in decline.
It costs more to shear our sheep than farmers get for the wool (ave 40p/kg = 80p per sheep)
So we need to explore opportunity.
It is an abundant sustainable local resource.
our primary mission and underlying question
Jacqui worked in the fashion and textile business up to board level for over 20 years
She has worked with wool for over 30 years - including British Wool
She has been a successful knitwear buyer with a budget of £multi million +
She worked with wool industry and manufacturing all over the world from Australia to Taiwan, China and Europe.
She understood the commercial dynamics, but also the decline in structure, lack of consumer understanding and need for change.
In 2021 she started to focus on research and discussions with collaborators and clients.
J Pearce - Welsh Wool Alliance
if you want to find out more or join the alliance, we would love to have you on board
Jacqui has lobbied for a WOOL - Cross Party Group - within the Senedd. This is a formal political body within the Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament - and a touchstone for forward policy and discussion and includes her bringing together key organisations within the Wool Sector in Wales who are also part of the group.
This was one of her key objectives that supports the Wool Industry as a whole and is important in bringing WOOL onto the agenda of any and all departments of Government.
The group was founded with support from Plaid Cymru Cefin Campbell MS, and other MS' from Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Cefin also sponsored a Wool Event at the Senedd in November 2022 and we thank him and his team for their ongoing support in driving these objectives into fruition.
Jacqui founded Ffleece in 2022 to house her commercial research projects, in December 2022 she worked with fellow WWA member Anna Felton on merging their individual projects into one focussed enterprise. Ffleece is that home
The projects include pioneering technology and farm to finish directives.
We are working with commercial clients and welcome discussions with collaborators
If you would like to be involved in any of the projects - please click on the links or contact us
Image copyrights - Jacqui Pearce and Hannah Davies all rights reserved
Ffleece is the first innovation hub dedicated to wool and natural fibres. Scoping and delivering commercial projects and research initiatives that are aimed at driving value through the wool chain. We work in a collaborative way in all we do.
Jacqui lobbied for a Cross Party Group in the Welsh Parliament that would be dedicated to debating Policy, Potential and Protection of the sector. Chaired by Cefin Campbell MS, it has representatives from all 4 parties in the Senedd and Jacqui was elected Secretary.
J Pearce - Welsh Wool Alliance
Her work within the Welsh Wool Sector introduced her to a number of diverse projects/groups. She recognised that they were fragmented and would be stronger together
In Summer 2022 she navigated the passion and founded an umbrella to home the coalition of projects, individuals, businesses and enterprises which all have an interest in Wool in Wales.. this became the WELSH WOOL ALLIANCE a coalition home for them all.
This small group of passionate wool lovers had multi faceted experience. The initial Wool Circle of strangers have become entwined and aligned; empowering each other to initiate change. Each adding value to the other.
The WWA has aligned the passion to deliver the potential through synergy, momentum and action.
Within 3 months, with no funding, they had formed a strong coalition. Jacqui has taken the strategic lead creating the website, branding home and strategic vision. Their membership is ever growing with 12 founders, 100's of members and 1000's of followers.
The WWA also now have the support of cross party members within the Welsh Government - creating conversations and a sponsored Senedd event to showcase change in November 2022. They are also backed by key industry bodies such as British Wool, NSA, FUW and NFU Cymru.
The focussed passions of a few, have sparked conversations and created disruption in a sector that was desperate for change. Our advocacy arguments remained positive and solution driven - helping meet our favoured outcomes.
This project has also included work Jacqui is scoping and implementing across the Wool sector in the UK.