European Wool Exchange Foundation - EWE

13/06/2026

Celebrating International Knit in Public Day: Knitting with Wool, Responsibly
Thousands of knitters across Spain will show their craft in public spaces to make textile artistry and responsible consumption visible.

*Featured events:*
- Paseo de la Lana, Galicia: open gathering of knitters
- Museo del Traje, Madrid: dialogue between heritage and today’s craft
- Torrent, Valencia: community knitting day
- Vitoria, Basque Country: wool meets urban landscape
- Dozens of locations more across Spain

Knit in Public is more than a symbolic act. It’s education, it’s passing on a craft, it’s advocating for wool as a natural, sustainable fiber.

If you knit, come join us. If you don’t, come learn. The community is waiting for you.

29/05/2026

🧶 What if fibre crafting could create calm, connection and care?
The Awards 2026 are now open!

We invite fiber crafters, knitters, crocheters, makers, designers, and creatives to create sensory hand comforters using 100% natural wool — simple handmade pieces that can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
✨ All creations will be donated to hospitals, elderly centres and schools to support people living with Alzheimer’s and autism
✨ It’s not only about winning — every contribution brings warmth, comfort, and support

🌍 Open worldwide
📅 Submission deadline: September 25, 2026
👉 Join the movement and learn more:
https://ewe.network/wool4health-awards-2026/

15/04/2026

Europe produces around 80,000 tonnes of wool each year—but a surprising amount never reaches the market. In some regions, up to 80% goes to waste.

So what’s going wrong?

Andrew Hogley (CEO of British Wool and Chair of the IWTO European Wool Task Team) highlighted a few key challenges at the European Wool Day 2026 Conference:

🧶 Wool is not a single product. It’s a technical fibre with huge variation in quality, meaning it must be properly graded and matched to the right end use.

🌍 Wool makes up just 1% of the global fibre market. Its real competition isn’t other wool—it’s synthetic fibres and cotton.

📉 For years, low prices made it uneconomical for farmers to even sell their wool. While prices are now improving, the damage has been done.

🚛 Logistics are a major barrier. Wool is produced in small quantities across dispersed farms, making collection, transport, and processing expensive.

📦 Without proper grading, traceability, and scale, much of Europe’s wool simply can’t enter global supply chains.

But there’s good news 👇

Europe already has the infrastructure, expertise, and capacity to process its wool.

The key lies in:
✔️ Better collaboration across the supply chain
✔️ Aggregating wool into commercially viable volumes
✔️ Educating both farmers and global buyers
✔️ Using existing systems instead of rebuilding from scratch

The opportunity is clear: with the right approach, European wool can reduce waste, improve returns for farmers, and compete more effectively in global markets.

Watch the full presentation here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVmOKjmxuU&t=6991s

Watch European Wool Day 2026 Conference here: https://youtu.be/QCVmOKjmxuU

09/04/2026

🐑✨ Today, April 9, we celebrate European Wool Day ✨🐑
A natural, renewable and local resource that connects land, sheep, people and the future. 🌍🧶
The recording of the European Wool Day 2026 Conference is available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/QCVmOKjmxuU

This year, in Tralee, Ireland on 28th March, the celebration led by EWE Foundation has highlighted something essential:
👉 the entire wool value chain, from animal welfare, farmers to craftsmanship, industry, policy, design and innovative new uses.

We are sharing extra videos to mark the day, so even attendees who made it in-person to the European Wool Day 2026 Confernce has some extra additional videos to celebrate the day with:
- Creating calm, a school project by Anja Sammon: https://youtu.be/zjK9Ye1BKPc
- Last year's Spanis European Wool Day celebration by Alberto Diaz from Made in Slow https://youtu.be/5t4OqiMj6D0
- This Will See Me Out: Localism, Emotional Longevity and Craft Heritage by Caoimhe Dowling https://youtu.be/wAC6iU_0bT8
- Baby Cloud by Montenegrin Wool Institute: https://youtu.be/RJD6vOe_AYo
- Wool 'tips' at lambing time by Jayne Harkness (Bones): https://youtu.be/AmeujvgMVcI

✨ An Irish Grown Wool Almanac has also been published, capturing this diverse and living ecosystem that makes wool relevant today:https://irishgrownwoolcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Irish-Grown-Wool-Almanac-0326.pdf

Talking about wool is talking about ESG in action:
♻️ Environmental: a natural, biodegradable material with a low footprint.
🤝 Social: rural jobs, traditional knowledge and territorial cohesion.
🏛️ Governance: traceability, value recognition and collaborative networks.

Today is a great day to give wool more visibility, look at it with fresh eyes and share why it is still part of the solution.
📣 If you feel the same, join in and spread the word!

01/04/2026

🐑 Reflecting on an incredibly successful and inspiring weekend in Tralee, Ireland for European Wool Day 2026
We welcomed farmers, researchers, designers, craftspeople, policymakers and wool advocates from across Europe and beyond to connect, collaborate and explore the future of wool together.

Organised by the European Wool Exchange Foundation – EWE with co-hosts Irish Grown Wool Council, Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR) and Sharon Wells Fibre Artist, the sold-out conference brought together over 200 attendees, with many more eager to join. Alongside the conference, the public European Wool Experience featured 35+ exhibitors and welcomed more than 1,000 visitors for workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions celebrating wool in action.

A key message throughout the weekend was clear: wool is not waste — it is a renewable, climate-positive and locally sourced material with huge potential. Conversations focused on innovation, sustainability, rural development, new applications for strong wool, and the importance of collaboration across farming, craft, design and research communities.

Participants from over 10 European countries and Canada highlighted the growing international momentum to reposition wool at the heart of sustainable futures. 🇮🇪🇪🇺🌏

We were delighted to have the support of Cllr Terry O’Brien, Mayor of Tralee; Dr Pippa Hackett; Maria Walsh MEP; New Zealand Ambassador Angela Hassan-Sharp at her first official engagement; and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP, who closed the event by launching the Irish Grown Wool Almanac — a new directory celebrating the people and businesses working with Irish wool.

A heartfelt thank you to local project managers Sharon Wells and Catherine Phibbs, and to everyone who attended, contributed, volunteered and supported the events. This shared collaboration is what made European Wool Day 2026 possible — and the momentum continues!

Full recordings of presentations and panels will be available from 9th April on
European Wool Exchange Foundation - EWE Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/-europeanwool255

28/03/2026

President of Ireland Catherine Connolly sending her well wishes for the European Wool Day 2026 where we celebrate wool, exchange knowledge and share a common vision for a brighter European wool future.

Looking forward to welcoming everyone to Tralee!

Co-hosts: Irish Grown Wool Council
Circular Bioeconomy Cluster
Centre for Applied Bioscience Research
Sharon Wells Art

Sponsors: REVEIRE | Future Island-Island | Donegalyarns | Belfast Mini Mills | Kerry County Council | Discover Kerry | Kerry Lamb & Wool Co-Op

Mile buíochas le Uachtarán na hÉireann / President of Ireland Catherine Connolly as a mianta maithe.
Many thanks to the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly for her well wishes for our 'European Wool Day 2026 Conference' and 'European Wool Experience' events. 🙏

From the huge interest in the conference nationally and internationally it's very clear the special place that wool holds for people and their ambition to see it thrive as a material. Looking forward to welcoming everyone to Tralee.

Sharon Wells Art European Wool Exchange Foundation - EWE Maria Walsh Martin Heydon Dooley's Wool Magee 1866

Co-hosts: European Wool Exchange Foundation - EWE
Circular Bioeconomy Cluster
Centre for Applied Bioscience Research
Sharon Wells Art

Sponsors: REVEIRE | Future Island-Island | Donegalyarns | Belfast Mini Mills | Kerry County Council | Discover Kerry | Kerry Lamb & Wool Co-Op

21/03/2026

European Wool Day is feautered in today’s Irish Times Magazine. Just one week to go until we gather in Tralee, Co.Kerry, Ireland on 28th March to celebrate wool together!

Come and join us at the 'European Wool Experience' a fringe event open to the general public, taking place on Saturday 28th March 2026 , Tralee – alongside the European Wool Day Conference 2026.
⏰ Drop in anytime between 10am - 5pm
Explore exhibitions, interactive demonstrations and displays where you can see, meet and engage with over 35 exhibitors: craftspeople, organisations, researchers and those working with wool in Ireland and Europe https://bit.ly/euwoolexp

The Conference part is fully booked, however all proceedings will be recorded and made available on the EWE Foundation YouTube Channel from 9 April 2026. www.youtube.com/-europeanwool255

20/03/2026

Looking forward to Andrew Hogley’s presentation on IWTO’s European Wool Task Team at the 6th European Wool Day on 28th March in Tralee, Ireland.

18/03/2026

Discover the programme of 'European Wool Day Conference 2026' featuring presentations and panel talks from those working with wool in Ireland and across Europe.
🗓 Saturday, 28 March 2026
📍 , Tralee, Ireland
🎥The proceedings will be recorded, and the full video will be available on the EWE Foundation YouTube Channel from 9 April 2026. www.youtube.com/-europeanwool255
🎟️ Admission is limited to registered ticket holders. (Conference is fully booked and operating a waiting list.)

Happening on the same day in the same hotel:
🧶🐑Free Fringe Event: 'European Wool Experience'
Open to the general public and suitable for all ages, this free event takes place on Saturday 28th March 2026 , Tralee – running alongside the European Wool Day Conference 2026.
⏰ Drop in anytime between 10am - 5pm
Explore exhibitions, interactive demonstrations and displays where you can see, meet and engage with over 35 exhibitors from across 10+ countries including craftspeople, organisations, researchers and those working with wool in Ireland and Europe
See the full line up: https://bit.ly/euwoolexp

European Wool Day 2026
Co-Hosts: Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, Centre for Applied, Bioscience Research (CABR), Irish Grown Wool Council, Sharon Wells
Sponsors: REVEIRE, Future Island-Island, Donegal Yarns Ltd, Belfast Mini Mills Ltd

13/03/2026

Belfast Mini Mills is excited to share that our International Support Technician, Andrew, will be attending Ewe European Wool Day in Ireland on March 28, 2026, in Tralee, Ireland.

Andrew will be on site during the event and would be happy to chat with anyone interested in learning more about Belfast Mini Mills equipment, starting or operating a mini mill, or exploring ways to add value to local wool.

If you’re attending the event or would like to meet with Andrew while he’s in Ireland, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to [email protected] to see what we can set up.

We look forward to connecting with members of the wool community! 🐑