Counting On Black Sheep (NAPSA)—If someone refers to you as the “black sheep of the bunch,” you may want to thank them. Wool from black sheep has become highly desirable. It’s now used as a blending and shading fiber in all-natural clothing and homeproducts. In recent history, black sheep were used as little more than counting devices for keeping track of sheep herds. For every 1,000 white sheep, a black sheep was added. Today, however, blacksheep woollets designers create warm, natural colors without using harsh dyes that run when they are washed or are harmful to the environment. For example, Pendleton Woolen Mills Fall 2002 Pure & Natural Collection is an eco-friendly collection of blankets and apparel made with 100 percent pure, no-dye wool fibers. The company’s designers say black fleece was key to helping them achieve their distinct looks. When black and white fleece is combined in certain proportions, it creates a wide range of natural-looking taupe hues. Thecollection includes a fawnand-cream striped bed blanket, as well as one of the company’s famous “Motor Robes” (used for years as must-haves for the car). The company’s women’s wear include the Ombre Shirt Jac and Buffalo Check Vest, which com- Black sheep’s wool has become a desirable product in the fashion industry. plementsa variety of tops and bot- toms, like the stone-color, cotton- Lycra stretch pant, brown cotton corduroy trouser, cardigan sweater and ivory turtleneck. The men’s collection features a Sherpa vest and woolshirt styles, worn with blue or black denim jeans, khakis or cords. All of these naturally dyed Pendleton products feature a special Pendleton Pure & Natural hang tag describing the undyed wool as “as close to nature as a product can get.” Consumers can visit the Web site www.pendleton-usa.com to shop online or order a catalogue. You may also check the Pendleton Web site for store locations throughout the country.
