UNIQUE
CAMEL WOOL
FROM TURKMENISTAN
OUR PRODUCTS
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100% Natural
Product
Our camel wool products come only in their original, natural colors. Camel wool contains the highest amount of lanolin, which is why it cannot be dyed. But we still have much color variation to offer, from cream, baked milk, yellowish beige, to dark brown shades. All products are hand-woven and we usually use the yarns in a mélange of lighter tones, mid tones and darker tones.
Suitable for all climates and seasons
Camel wool is the warmest wool, but it is comfortable not only in cold weather. Camel hair has a hollow structure, which gives it excellent thermal insulation. Camel wool products keep you warm when it is cold and protect you from overheating during summer.
Performance Fibre
The long, thick camel wool is characterized by increased strength and elasticity. It is practical to wear, because resistant to dirt and self-cleaning. Wool is naturally water-resistant, repelling moisture vapor through its fibres and making it resistant to rot, mold and mildew. Its unique structure doesn’t allow odor build-up, which is why its often used for extreme activity clothes. Wool allows air to pass freely, does not interfere with skin breathing and micro-ventilation. In addition to this, camel hair is one of the lightest because it supplies warmth without added weight. Moreover it does not electrify and does not cause allergies.
Camel wool in Turkmen culture
Turkmens have always admired the quality of this animal’s wool, passing on the secrets of its medical properties from generation to generation. In Turkmen culture we use camel wool products widely, because we believe the dry heat of camel hair improves blood circulation, promotes vasodilation, activates metabolism and regenerative processes in tissues. Because of these unique properties, we would like to offer camel wool products to our customers.
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PRODUCTION PROCESS
We make the product from start to finish, by hand, in the way we have always done it.
Shearing
It is in springtime that we collect the wool. It is then that the shepherds comb or shear the camels during the molt period, combing out the valuable undercoat.
Washing
We then handwash the wool three or four times, to make sure it is completely clean, without dirt and dust.
Drying
After this, we dry the wool in the open air to remove any moisture.
Carding
At this stage, we sort the fibers, separating the softer, better ‘fluff’ from the coarser wool. It is here also that we sort by color, keeping darker, lighter and mid-tones apart. We have a simple carding machine that we use to free the wool from small hairs and to get a homogeneous, thin fiber. Now the raw material is ready to go to the ladies that do the spinning and weaving!
Spinning
The spinning is done with the help of a simple tool, which produces a two-ply yarn. We usually mix two colors to get a nice mélange effect.
Weaving
Our ladies do the spinning and weaving in their rural homes. They use their outside yard to set up the warp, which can be up to 15 meters long . Then they set up the actual loom inside, usually in a separate room of their home. The maximum width of the loom is around 100 centimeters and the weaving is done entirely by hand, in a plain weave technique. It is a traditional skill they have learnt from their mothers to earn some extra income.
“CAMEL – IS TURKMENS’ WEALTH AND PRIDE!”
For millennia, camels have been an indispensable means of transport in Turkmenistan. Our camels are faithful helpers - helped to plow the land, grind grain, pull out huge buckets of water from deep wells. The carrying capacity of the camel is about half of its own weight, and large species weigh more than 700 kilograms. And with such a weight, the animal walks through the hot desert, often without water, for several tens of kilometers a day. In Turkmenistan we have the one-humped camel or dromedary.
All Turkmen camels are stately and beautiful, but for rural holidays and family celebrations the best one is chosen. A special wooden saddle is put on the animal - in such a way as to form a flat seat. Then, bags of grass are placed on top, covered with a felt mat or carpet. A multi-colored cap with a spire, called a "gupba", is put on the camel's head. A blanket sewn from bright pieces of cloth is thrown on the sides, and a copper bell is attached to the neck, sounding in unison with small bells on the dromedary's lap. Now, the owner of the camel sits in the saddle and gives the command "Chu!" - get up! And the "desert ship" will sail slowly, swaying slightly, along the festively decorated streets of the village.
shearing
washing and drying
washed wool
setting up the loom
spinning
weaving process
OUR PEOPLE AND OUR PLANET
We care about the people that make our products, from the shepherds to the weavers. We are proud to say that our camel wool collection is 100% Turkmen and 100% hand-made using traditional skills. We give meaningful work and income to rural women working from their homes, allowing them to gain some extra income for the family. In this, we keep a tradition alive.
Camel wool is a natural fiber, which, because we don’t dye it, remains fully biodegradable. This is also because we do not use any caustic or toxic chemicals during harvesting or processing. Our production process is mainly manual, with a simple carding machine, powered by electricity, so we don’t have a heavy industrial impact on nature.
Our camels are our pride and joy, and we treat them well. They are roaming freely, feeding in the desert and the shearing is done by hand, which is painless to the animal. In this way, we make sure that they remain ‘our wealth and pride’!
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HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CAMEL WOOL PRODUCTS
Please wash our camel wool products in warm water, not higher than 30C, using detergents intended for natural wool. We advise you to use a special shampoo with lanolin extract. Better not centrifuge our camel wool product and don’t dry them in the sun. The best for woollen products is outdoor ventilation on wet days.