Why Buy Wool? *A monthly column devoted to helping women and men be their best and most confident in any situation. Topics include dress, body language, attitude and etiquette.

Victoria Seitz, PhD Image Expert

With the popularity of lycra, polyester, acetate, triacetate, and rayon, why buy wool. Wool is so hot. I can't wear here in California. It's hard to take care of. Excuse, after excuse after excuse but to be frank with you, I will refute all your hesitations about buying wool!

Whether it's winter, spring, summer, or fall, wool is the fiber for all seasons. With today's technology in yarns and weaves, wool can be as thick and heavy for a winter coat for Chicago or translucent and light for an evening gown. Tropical weight wool is probably the best buy for traveling and for all seasons. Wool is a natural fiber so it breathes, keeping you comfortable, and it can keep you dry in damp weather because of the lanolin in the fibers. Here are some other reasons for buying wool:

• Wool is flexible and elastic

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• It repels moisture making it resistant to accidental spills, yet absorbs perspiration.

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• It is resilient, making it ideal for travel

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• It keeps it s shape and good looks for a longer period of time than a 100% synthetic product

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• It can bounce back to its original shape after being pulled or stretched.

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• It is naturally flame-retardant

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• It is versatile. No other fiber can be spun or woven in such variety of weights and texture.

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• Is absorbs dyes easily and beautifully

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• It has an excellent ability to insulate, keeping you warm in the winter Also wool takes a minimal amount of care. Follow these simple guidelines and your wool garments will last for years.

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• Give clothes a 24 hour rest between wearings.

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• Empty pockets and remove belts before hanging them to rest.

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• Fold wool knitwear and store in drawers or shelves.

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• Brush wool and store in drawers or shelves.

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• To refresh wools, simply hang them in a steamy bathroom. Any wrinkle will fall out with steam.

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• Store winter wools carefully during the summer. Include mothballs or cedar chips to keep your woolens free from moths, silverfish, and other insects.

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• Follow care instructions carefully. Most wool garments should be dry-cleaned once or twice a year. Over-dry-cleaning will dry out the fibers and fad color as well.

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• If you choose to hand-wash your wool sweaters, use Woolite or a mild liquid soap. When using Woolite, follow the directions for soaking time explicitly

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• Wool, cashmere, or lambswool sweaters can be hand-washed or dry-cleaned. Angora, however, is extremely fragile and must be drycleaned. Some Terms that you should know when buying wool are as follows:

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• Virgin Wool is new wool that has never been used previously

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• Pure wool or 100% wool is a product using fabric composed completely of wool and is also new. However, the product as a whole may also be composed of 5% other fibers (typically in the lining).

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• Wool product means any product that contains virgin, reprocessed or reused wool in some portion.

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• Reprocessed wool is wool that has been manufactured before but then reduced to fiber for reuse. The wool, however, has not been worn or used before.

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• Reused wool is reclaimed wool that has been manufactured and used by the consumer, then returned to a fibrous state and blended with stronger wool. Reused wool is often blended with other fabrics for qualities known only to wool, and finally,

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• The Woolmark symbol represents a quality-tested product manufactured from pure wool. It identifies wool that has met standards by the manufacturer and assures you that the wool product you are buying is of the highest quality.

To learn more about Dr. Seitz please visit her website at www.cbpa.csusb.edu/vseitz.

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