The wool production cycle consists of 8 specific phases, beginning with shearing, which involves cutting the raw wool from the animal’s fleece in spring or fall. This is followed by washing and degreasing—the fibers are washed to remove soil, grease (lanolin), and other impurities and then dried—and finally, carding, performed using machines with toothed rollers that separate the fibers, removing residues and creating a soft blanket that is then divided into strips. The process then continues with combing, during which the wool strips (ribbons or tops) are aligned parallel to eliminate the shorter fibers and residual impurities, resulting in longer, more uniform fibers; dyeing; spinning—the ribbons are further processed, drawn, and twisted to form the woolen thread, which will then be used for weaving—and weaving. In this phase, the yarns are interwoven with the warp (the longitudinal part) and the weft (the perpendicular crossing) to create the fabric. The final step is the functional finishing, which improves its appearance, stability, and softness.
