Uruguayan wool – get the full story

Q&A

with Victor Chesky

Origen by Engraw The importance is in the origin

Engraw SA manufactures its wooltop at its mill 100k from Montevideo Uruguay. It is surrounded by 100 hectares of pristine pasture and woodland. It produces approximately 4,500 tonnes of tops per year. It was one of a small number of topmakers in South America to embrace environmentally friendly practices into all aspects of its production. I asked Federico Raquet, company

Federico Raquet (left) and Frank Raquet

director at Engraw SA how the company continues to developits environmental accreditation and compliance and all about its new product: Origen by Engraw.

A. We are deeply committed to wool as a renewable fibre. We use renewable energy and greater efficiencies, and we are proud to be carbon neutral.Our two Vestas 1.8 MW wind turbines generate the electricity needed

for our entire production. We have eliminated environmental problems at every stage of our production process.In 2020 we launched our new Origen by Engraw tops. This new product is available to all customers and comes with a very high level of accreditation that starts at the farm.

Q. What differentiates Origen

by Engraw from any other wool produced in Uruguay?

A. Embracing this new project involved working exclusively with farms that share our vision and values.

We focused on ethics and traceability. We have a story to share with consumer about the origins and journey of our wool and this is a story that they are very interested to hear. A story of passion and of caring. We can assure them that the 3000 growers we partner with in Uruguay look after their sheep and shear them with care. Uruguayan sheep live in a near perfect habitat, free from stress and are mulesed-free. The wooltop we sell offers the very best in quality, and in eco-friendly and ethical wool production. We have a personal relationship with each farm and animal welfare is fundamental. This is a key point for these wool growers as well as for Engraw. We have each grower sign a declaration that they comply with our strict environmental and animal welfare protocols. Our company audits provide customers the fundamental assurance without the big costs often associated with some certification. We developed our own Origen by Engraw to demonstrate that environmental and animal well-being is adhered to at all stages. We offer a high quality product that the final customer can trace to its origin, providing the story behind its creation.This information provides commercial and practical advantages to our customers.

When the wool arrives to our facility it is processed using 98% renewable energy. All sub products are processed so there is no waste. We have Carbon Neutral certification, and we deliver a premium, ethical product that is fully traceable.

Q. Today our industry and the

consumer at retail talks about connecting nature to garments. How doesOrigen by Engrawfit into this new narrative?

A. A strong relationship with farms must underpin our ability to manufacture Origen by Engrawtops. We provide a fully traceable route that takes the final consumer back to the land where the sheep were raised. We can achieve exceptional quality by focusing on animal welfare, technological innovation, and a perfect blend of experience and passion. We combine the experience and tradition of a 4th generation family business with the flexibility and dynamism needed in the 21st century. When you buy wooltop from us with the Origen by Engraw label you can be certain you have purchased “”animal welfare”” and “ethical textile processing”, as well as become part of our wonderful Origen story.

Q. In addition to Origen by

Engraw label what other certifications can Engraw SA offer its customers?

A. On request we also provide third party certification with three options including from SUL, RWS, and GOTS. Full traceability, telling the whole story right back to the farm provides the marketing information expected in today’s world. We offer the best Uruguayan wool with a wool top range including premium types, super types, standard types, and other types including grey and brown coloured types. Moreover all Uruguayan wool is free from mulesing.

Our tops offer excellence in colour, strength and length enabling spinners to increase the speed and efficiency of their spinning process. The diameter range of our wool top production goes from 17.5 micron to 34.0 micron. We process wool from corriedale, merino and polworth, the predominant breeds in Uruguay.

Federico Raquet can be contacted at engraw@engraw.com.uy