Ashford sliver is a 100% New Zealand product with wool from pasture-fed Merino or Corriedale sheep. We know many of the farmers – some of whom have farmed the land for generations. They take great pride in the quality of their wool and the high standard of animal husbandry. The sheep are well cared for and are not museled.After the sheep are shorn, on the farm, the wool is carefully skirted and checked. Only wool that is sound, clean with good fibre length, bulk and colour is selected. It is sent to our mill in Milton to be dyed, carded and combed.It is scoured (washed) by a standard aqueous treatment at 60-70 degrees, using an environmentally-friendly detergent called 6 mole. This detergent is biodegradable and breaks down quickly in the water leaving no residue. The wool is then dried and dyed. The dyes comply with the strict EU regulations and garments made from the sliver can be certified under the Oeko-Tex Standard 100. This standard is the most widely known standard for certification of ecologically-safe clothing. (Detailed information can be found at https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/our-standards/standard-100-by-oeko-tex). The fibre is then gently opened and conditioned. Carding machines align the fibres and remove any foreign matter. It is then gilled and combed.