Natural, renewable and highly functional: wool is nature-based high tech, and is the perfect insulation material, as demonstrated by lavalan^® washable wool wadding. The Bavarian family business uses exclusively traceable, European virgin wool, delivering a contemporary and sustainable alternative to down or synthetics.

Why use synthetic fibers when nature has already supplied us with highly functional and complex raw materials that are renewable to boot?! With its unrivalled breathability, wool creates a pleasant warmth, keeping the body dry and at a constant temperature – and it can adjust to the intensity of the activity level and to a wide range of different weather conditions. Another advantage is that it can absorb as much as 36% of its own weight in moisture without actually feeling wet; the wool fibers are able to stretch and therefore retain their warming properties.

In addition to these thermoregulating properties, wool is also able to neutralize unpleasant odors, meaning it can be worn for longer without needing to be washed. Plus, it is hypoallergenic, long-lasting and biodegradable: in soil, it decomposes within around six months, and even in water, it only takes seven or eight months to break down to the point where it can no longer be detected. Wool similarly does not need to be specially ‘produced’; it simply regrows. After all, sheep generally need to be shorn once or twice a year in order to lead a healthy life.

In short, wool offers the perfect properties and functions that we need outdoors, and which discerning, nature-conscious consumers expect today.

Animal welfare and short transportation routes

The structure and properties of European virgin wool make it ideal for high-quality lavalan wadding. And it has many other advantages that are in keeping with the spirit of the times: Europe has strict animal-welfare standards, and practices such as mulesing are not allowed. The wool does not need to be flown halfway across the globe; lavalan instead supports traditional sheep-herding methods on mountain pastures, nomadic herding and the associated maintenance of the countryside. During the warmer months, the animals usually feed on whatever nature has to offer, meaning no specific feeding procedures are required. The transport routes for further processing are also short: sheep farmers deliver their freshly-shorn wool to collection points where the fibers are sorted and pressed into bales according to color and quality. The wool is then carefully cleaned in traditional wool-scouring plants in Belgium and Great Britain, before being delivered to Baur Vliesstoffe in Germany. Sixty employees particularly skilled in working with wool then set about producing lavalan at the company’s headquarters in Dinkelsbühl.

A wide range of uses: from jackets to helmets to gloves

Lavalan wool wadding comes in a wide range of strengths and thicknesses, allowing lavalan to cater very precisely to the requirements of their nearly 40 brand customers from the outdoor and clothing sectors. These include renowned companies such as Alpina, Artilect, Black Diamond, Edelrid, Fjällräven, Grüezi bag, Klättermusen, Maier Sports, ON Running, Tatonka, Triple 2, Vaude and Ziener, which all use lavalan to insulate all kinds of products.

In the classic version of lavalan, a corn-based PLA fiber is used to provide stability and robustness. The portfolio has recently been expanded to include lavalan pure. This fleece is 100% European virgin wool and is particularly suitable for use in outerwear, thanks to its especially fine structure. lavalan^® plus, meanwhile, makes an excellent choice for gloves, and lavalan^® pro is perfect for ski pants and work clothing.
lavalan is a natural and sustainable alternative for virtually all products insulated with synthetic fiber fillings or down. The wool guarantees the best possible level of comfort with a wonderful feel-good factor, and is the perfect choice for outdoor adventure challenges in both summer and winter. In short: the sheep show us how it’s done – people with active lives choose lavalan.

 

 

 

Photos: lavalan