Weganool: ‘Vegan’ wool claim angers Australian industry

So-called “vegan” wool made from a plant may soon be for sale in Australia. The prospect has the wool industry calling for truth in labelling.

Weganool is made using a blend of fibres from calotropis (pictured) and organic cotton. Picture: Mark Cranitch

A synthetic fibre heralded as a “vegan” alternative to wool has drawn the ire of Australia’s wool industry.

And to rub salt in the wound, the plant-based wool alternative is made from a plant that is a declared pest in parts of Australia.

According to the website, Weganool is a 100 per cent plant-based fabric, made using a blend of calotropis fibres and organic cotton.

Weganool creator Shankar Gowri said while Weganool was exported to Europe at present, the brand has received a number of inquiries from Australia and are “considering entering the market”.

“Customers are clearly looking for cruelty-free textiles,” Mr Gowri said.

Mr Gowri said Weganool – named after the Tamil word for thread – was branded a “vegan alternative” because of the properties of the calotropis plant, which has hollow fibres with natural airpockets.

The West Australian agricultural department website states calotropis is a “declared pest”.

“Just as its animal counterpart, the Weganool creates a microclimate around the human body when worn. It keeps you wonderfully warm in winter and cool in summer and people are not allergic to it,” Mr Gowri said.

But Mr Gowri said he saw no benefit in comparing his product to wool.

“We do not compare our fibre to any others, rather focus on its strengths and try to use it to offer people a great sustainable fabric,” Mr Gowri said.

“However, describing the touch, feel and optic of the fabric, it most closely resembles cashmere.”

Australian Wool Industry chief executive Stuart McCullough said truth in labelling was important.

“The fact is, wool can only come from a sheep,” Mr McCullough said.

“The international Wool Textile Organisation is the global authority for standards in the wool textile industry, they will no doubt follow this up.”

Mr McCullough said Australian wool was “the best in the world”.

“We back the quality of Australian wool to beat any fibre,” Mr McCullough said.

“The only reason a non-wool fibre would want to abandon its own name and try and pass itself off as wool is a huge endorsement of the many great qualities of wool. Even so they should label their fibre accurately.”

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