The Power of Wool

The Karoo was the stage for Wool World, a bold creative exhibition that brought to life the texture of wool, the power of unity and the strength of a farm-to-fibre community.

COMPILED BY VISI PHOTOS Armand Dicker, Ant Dan, Karla Muller

Conceptualised by fashion house Viviers and design studio Hoven, and made possible by Cape Wools SA,Wool World was specifically curated for the 2025 Karoo Winter Wool Festival, and hosted in a working shearing shed on Dwarsvlei farm near Middelburg in the Eastern Cape. The immersive, multisensory experience explored the cultural and emotional resonance of wool through the lens of the Karoo’s four seasons, with the cyclical changes embodied in art, fashion, furniture, farming and design.

Called “Beneath Karoo Skies”, Wool World 2025 celebrated the richness, diversity and versatility of South African wool, as well as the community responsible for shaping this fi bre from farm to form. With more than 50 farmers, designers, artists, makers, studios and industry players contributing, it was a living tapestry of South Africa’s creativity.

Set in a functioning shearing shed – where the wool journey begins – the exhibition offered visitors both a literal and a metaphorical walk through the four seasons of the Karoo. Each space was created using natural, locally sourced materials, as well as found objects from the working sheep farm. The exhibition highlighted the versatility and emotional weight of wool, and the vital role it plays in South African heritage – but it was also a tribute to the farm-to-fibre ecosystem.

From the shepherd, shearer, washers and processors, to the spinner, weaver, knitter, felter, designer, artisan and the broader industry, it showed that South African wool is not merely a product, but rather the result of shared effort, skill and deep respect between people and land. Wool World’s goal was to highlight the fact that wool is not just a fibre – it is a symbol of unity, creativity, diversity and sustainability.

The exhibition space included artwork created from donated off cuts by Edition Verso, Leila Atelier, Wrapt Knitwear and Viviers Studio interns.

Now in its fourth year, the 2025 edition of the Karoo Winter Wool Festival drew nearly 2 500 visitors, championing wool’s cultural, economic and environmental value through a packed programme of demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions and speaker sessions. Founded by four dynamic women – Sarah van Lingen, Marlize Moolman, Yolandi Erasmus and Nelmi Uys – who are passionate about advancing the local wool and natural-fibre industry, the festival celebrates education, advocacy and fibre culture. It has become a cornerstone of the fibre community calendar, welcoming artists, designers, craft ers, producers, processors, retailers and enthusiasts from across the country.

This year’s event featured more than 40 wool-focused businesses, and offered a full programme of workshops and talks. One of the highlights was a powerful keynote address by Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, which left the audience with renewed belief in collective action, compassion and hope.

The educational programme covered everything from fibre processing and textile innovation to hands-on crafts. The Boerepraatjies session, hosted in collaboration with the National Wool Growers Association, offered insights into South Africa’s agricultural and wool industries. Speakers addressed topics such as policy, economics and sustainability, before the focus shifted to leadership and social impact. With its message of unity, collaboration and design excellence, Wool World certainly left a lasting impression. | karoowinterwoolfestival.com

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