The collaboration between the Sheep Shearers' Association of Euskal Herria, Maria Clé Leal and the Provincial Council of Araba is a call to use and revalue the wool of the latxa sheep
- The project brings together tradition and innovation. A demonstration of the potential of local materials
- The design is bold and moves right away from the traditional uniforms used at championships like this one
- It places local wool in new territory, giving it the place and the value it deserves
The shearers and wool handlers of the Euskal Herria team travelling to New Zealand will wear uniforms made from latxa wool at the Golden Shears World Championship. The project is the result of a collaboration between the Sheep Shearers’ Association of Euskal Herria and the designer Maria Clé Leal, with the support of the Provincial Council of Araba. It places latxa wool, our own, in new territory, giving it the place and the value it truly deserves.
The collaboration is a call to use and revalue the wool of the latxa sheep. The project brings together tradition and innovation. It is a demonstration of the potential of local materials. It will allow the values of the primary sector, the heritage, the knowledge, the character and the identity to travel to New Zealand. “We will be wearing those qualities, and dressed well, throughout the world championship,” said the shearers and wool handlers.
“The shearers’ association wants to claim and to show the value of the wool from here. At the World Championship, the Basque shearers and wool handlers will wear uniforms made with latxa wool, our own. A local product. Local craftsmanship. Together with local institutions. What is known as zero kilometre. May this collaboration be an example from now on too,” they added.
“For Basque wool to have value in the market, we ourselves have to recognise that value first. This project is a clear example of it, because Basque wool is a real economic, social and environmental opportunity for this land. That is what we believe. That is what we want to claim. It is in the hands of our society,” they said.
Uniforms, from Euskal Herria to the world
The uniforms created by designer Maria Clé are comfortable, clean-lined garments suited to the setting of a championship. They will become the mark of the Euskal Herria team at the World Championship.
The designs use grey, navy and undyed tones, a deliberate move towards a plain, contemporary look. The design is bold and moves right away from the traditional uniforms used at championships like this one.
The pieces come in men’s and women’s cuts and redefine the idea of a uniform. The essence of the association is there in them. Current. Elegant. Local. Made with our wool.