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This felt was handmade by women of rural herding communities in Mongolia’s Selenge and Zavkhan provinces, in the Khangai Mountains, using the wool of “Sartuul” and “Orkhon” sheep. The sheep were sheared using hand tools, and the wool was coloured with natural dyes. The felt contains 40–70 percent cashmere, making it soft and warm.
Tradition
“Sartuul” and “Orkhon” sheep are locally adapted varieties that have been selectively bred for centuries in Mongolia, where felt-making has been a part of daily life since ancient times. The sheep graze at an altitude of 2 000 metres on the cooperatives’ communal land, practicing sustainable grazing to promote rangeland health and combating overgrazing and climate change. The producers then use traditional techniques to make eco-friendly, modern creations from the sheep’s wool.
Producer
The producers are organized in three cooperatives – “Kharaagiin Bayan Urs”, “Ulzii Shaglaa” and “Zavkhan Ekh Nutag” – with a total of around 1 000 members. On average, each producer owns one hectare of land and is also involved in vegetable farming and beekeeping in addition to herding. Using the wool provided to them by the cooperatives, 15 women from the rural herding communities transform the fibre into a variety of felt products, such as slippers, socks, traditional shoes and cushions.
Processing technique
Once the sheep are shorn, cooperative members select the finest fibres for transforming into felt products. Next, the wool is washed and dried in the sun, and then a small drum is used to card the wool to make it fluffy. The wool is then dyed using onion peels, red turnips or other vegetables. Finally, it is flattened into sheets with water and household soap, cut into patterns and sewn together to make clothing, toys and handicrafts.
Further information
