Wondering About Wool? These 5 Films Explain Fashion’s Relationship With the Fiber

After all, it is a natural fiber that humans have worn for centuries and —

SustainabilityWondering About Wool? These 5 Films Explain Fashion’s Relationship With the FiberBySophie Lou WilsonSeptember 18, 2026A still fromWillow and Claude, a short film which follows Collective Fashion Justice's founding director, Emma Hakansson on her search for an ethical knitwear supply chain. Photo: Courtesy of Collective Fashion Justice 2026 Fiber BySophie Lou WilsonSeptember 18, 2026 A Save StorySave this storySave StorySave this storySince the Spring/Summer 2027 shows kicked off last Thursday, Peta protestors have crashed the runway twice. At Cos in New York and H&M in London, animal rights activists interrupted with demonstrations, holding banners saying, „Wool is bloody cruel” and „Sheep beaten and bloodied for wool, don’t buy it”. While Peta protests at fashion week are nothing new, many were perplexed by the idea thatwool should be removed from the supply chain.

Breaking News

Hollywood Elite Honor Carpenter, Theron, and Domingo at Academy Museum GalaThe Next Generation of Collagen: Small Peptides, Big ClaimsThe Impending Rise of Cobalt Blue in 2027 FashionThe Secret to a Flawless Autumn Complexion is Sunscreen Layering

After all, it is a natural fiber that humans have worn for centuries and — unlike fur — does not necessarily involve the death of an animal. As material literacy continues to ramp up and consumers seek natural alternatives to polyester-based fabrics, wool may seem like a lasting, sustainable alternative. It has many helpful properties, including regulating body temperature, moisture, and odor. However, some experts take issue with the ethics surrounding its production, which can often entail cruel practices like mulesing. Read MoreWhy Would Fashion Ever Ban Wool? ByBella WebbWhile a vocal minority advocate for a complete ban on wool, others suggest more regulations and transparency in the supply chain.

In short, it’s complex

In short, it’s complex, so we put together a list of five informative documentaries worth watching to learn more about fashion’s knotty relationship with wool, following designers and activists on their journeys to forge a more ethical and sustainable path into the future. Farm to FashionInFarm to Fashion, New York-based designers Donna Karan and Mimi Prober visit Isabella Rossellini’s farm in Long Island to learn more about sustainable fiber production. The documentary highlights the journey wool goes on from farms in upstate New York to the fashion week runways in Manhattan. On her farm, Rossellini raises heritage sheep breeds, offering blankets, ponchos and clothing crafted from their yarn. Farm to Fashionrepresents wool as a renewable natural resource that can be produced through ethical farming practices while creating jobs, supporting local economies and encouraging biodiversity.

Although the film acknowledges that wool is not entirely impact-free, it is positioned as a regenerative alternative to synthetic fabrics derived from fossil fuels. Sustainability is not about perfection, but transparency. Instagram contentThe Value of British WoolThe Value of British Woolfollows knitwear designer and researcher Nicci James on a year-long research project where she explores the properties of different rare, UK-native wool yarns, including Shetland, Welsh Mule and Lincoln Longwool. The short film documents the process from sourcing the fleece through to final garment development, featuring farmers, wool processors, spinning mills, and manufacturers.„Wool has a very rich cultural history, everyone I meet has a story to tell me about wool,” says James.