Italian merino wool with a short supply chain: from sheep to sweater
The merino wool in Lanaioli's short-supply-chain garments has a traceable origin: it comes from Sopravissana sheep at Controra, the farm owned by one of Lanaioli's partners in Norma (LT), in the Lepini Mountains, and is washed and spun in Italy. From shearing to knitting, every step has a name and a place.
Why a short supply chain for merino wool
The problem of long-distance transport for sourcing raw materials in the textile sector concerns not only cashmere, but also other yarns. One example is merino wool, obtained by shearing sheep of the namesake breed or merino-cross breeds.
In Italy, wool-sheep farming is practically disappearing. For decades, farmers have been encouraged to produce milk and meat, which are more profitable. Without recognized economic value, wool is considered costly waste to dispose of.
This is where Lanaioli's short supply chain project began: to restore value to Italian wool and obtain Italian merino wool from sheep breeds in Central Italy.
The farm: Controra's Sopravissana sheep
In Norma, in the province of Latina, Controra, the farm owned by one of Lanaioli's partners, raises around 70 Sopravissana sheep and supplies their wool to the Lanaioli project. Controra is also a place for slow experiences in the Lepini Mountains, where visitors can learn about farm life up close.
The Sopravissana is a sheep breed from Central Italy, developed by crossing Vissana ewes with merino rams, and is now at risk of extinction. Raising it means preserving a native breed and obtaining fine wool suitable for knitwear.
The project is open to other farmers in Central Italy who raise merino-cross breeds, with the aim of completing the Made in Italy circle for the yarn's origin as well as for its processing and knitwear production.
Our supply chain in numbers
| Farm | Controra, the farm of a Lanaioli partner, Norma (LT), Lepini Mountains |
| Breed | Sopravissana |
| Sheep raised | around 70 |
| Shearing | in May, once a year |
| Wool collected | an average of 250 kg of greasy wool (raw, unwashed) per year |
| Washing, carding and spinning | Lanatura Filati, Pedemonte (VI), since 2026 |
| Knitting | Italian artisan workshops |
From sheep to knitwear
- Shearing: every May, Controra's sheep are shorn.
- Washing: the greasy wool is washed by Lanatura Filati in Pedemonte (VI) to remove grease and impurities.
- Carding: the fibers are opened and aligned.
- Spinning: the fibers become the yarn we work with.
- Knitwear: our Italian artisan workshops turn the yarn into knitwear and accessories.
Discover the short-supply-chain garments
Fair compensation for farmers
We want to guarantee farmers fair compensation for the wool they supply. This helps them improve the breeds and allows us to process the wool in dedicated Italian facilities.
This is how we obtain high-quality yarns that can compete with those from Australia, New Zealand and South America, while reducing the environmental impact and costs of long-distance transport.
It is a demanding choice, but we made it to build an entirely Italian wool chain, with dignity at work for everyone involved.
Why merino wool
- Regulates temperature: keeps you warm in winter and stays cool when the temperature rises.
- Breathes: absorbs moisture up to 30% of its weight without feeling wet and limits odors.
- Lasts: the fibers are elastic and resilient, so garments retain their shape and quality over time.
- Returns to the earth: it is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fiber.
Learn more about what merino wool is, merino sheep, their origins and characteristics, and how to wash wool garments without felting them.