Wool Care & FAQ: Answers from an Expert

Our products are made from soft sheep, yak, and camel wool. We meticulously select items from makers and producers in Mongolia and Central Asia and ship to Canada. It’s a family effort to bring you a collection of clothing and home wares that get you outside, enjoying the warmth that comes from spending time with your family.

Here are our Nomad family's answers to some of our customers most frequently asked questions:

Does wool need to be hand-washed?

No, hand-washing is not required. The wool products we sell are manufactured to be machine washed on gentle or delicate cycles using cold water. Turn your product inside out before placing it into the washing machine and wash with "like" fabrics using the lowest possible spin cycle.

What type of detergent and fabric softener should I use?

We wash our wool using a mild laundry detergent that is pH-neutral. If you don't have a mild wash liquid gentle hair soap can be used. Do not use fabric softener. Fabric softeners are designed for use on synthetic fabrics and will leave a coating on the natural wool fibre which over time will degrade the fabric. Do not add bleach or harsh chemicals to the wash as these will harm the wool fibre.

How do I dry wool products?

Wool of any type should not be placed in a dryer—even on a low setting. The heat will shrink the wool fibres and you'll turn your adult socks into socks fit for a child! To dry, remove your wool products from the washer, gently squeeze out the excess moisture using a towel (do not wring-out wool) and lay them flat to dry. It's important to not hang wool to dry as the wool fibres will stretch and your garment will become misshapen.  

Are all your products 100% wool?

We take great care sourcing our products and only offer items which our family would be proud to wear. Most of our products are made from 100% camel, yak and sheep wool. Some products such as socks may contain a small (less than 10%) amount of synthetic fibre used for stretch. Look for these symbols on our hand tags, they indicate which wool type has been used and whether there's synthetic fibre added for stretch. Regardless of wool type or synthetic fibre the washing instructions do not change.

I love the socks I bought last year, can I buy the exact same pair?

Our products are sourced from fair trade makers and small suppliers throughout Mongolia and Central Asia. Once we find a product we like we purchase enough to get us through the season. But like any small buyer our supply chain is impacted by customer interest and the maker's ability to produce. We strive for consistency and try to carry the same products year over year. If you love a product purchased previously and cannot find it in our store—reach out using our contact page. We'll respond with a "like" product suggestion that we promise you'll love.