View of a waterfront with sailboats, a historic clock tower, modern buildings, a modern curved glass structure, and two people walking along a walkway with a fence and lamp post.

11th OCTOBER 2023

WOOL EISTEDDFOD

EISTEDDFOD WLÂN

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WELSH WOOL ALLIANCE

Black background with white text and graphics promoting Welsh Wool Alliance. Features stylized wool, button, and yarn illustrations. Text includes 'Welsh Wool Alliance', 'Cynghrai Gwlân Cymru', and 'With key partner British Wool'.

WE ARE HOSTING THE INAUGRAL WOOL EISTEDDFOD IN THE ICONIC RED BRICK PIERHEAD BUILDING AT THE SENEDD

WHAT IS IT?

Eisteddfod (noun) - pronounced eye-steth-fod : a festival with several competitions, historically for poetry and music.

They were established in Medieval times when Welsh bards and minstrels would assemble for an “eisteddfod” (session) of creative competition. These events are held from schools to national level in Welsh communities across the globe to celebrate creativity.

The WOOL EISTEDDFOD - EISTEDDFOD WLÂN will be held during October which is well known as WOOL MONTH, the annual celebration of all things wool… where we are celebrating WOOL WEEK WALES - WYTHNOS WLÂN CYMRU.

It will be the first large scale wool event from Farm to Finish to be held in Wales, featuring businesses and members from the Welsh Wool Alliance.  Some have dubbed it the Wool Oscars!

Close-up of a beige card with royal engraving, standing on a black stand, with yellow yarn and gold jewelry on the surface nearby.

WINNERS.

We had over 200 entries and 21 finalists with over 50 businesses attending alonside members from all 4 parties in the Senedd including Party Leaders and the Llywydd. It was an incredible memorable day of networking and talking passionately about the future of wool in Wales and the power of our community to drive commercial change. The judges had a tough job deciding on the winners… and all the finalists were superb.

CONGRATULATIONS! LLONGYFARCIADAU!

WOOL GROWER - THE WELSH WOOL SHED

WOOL DESIGNER - LLIO JAMES

WOOL WONDER - CAPLIN TEC

WOOL BUSINESS - CAMBRIAN WOOL

WOOL COMMUNITY - NATIONAL WOOL MUSEUM

WOOL CREATIVE - LAURA THOMAS TEXTILES

WOOL WILD CARD - WOOL COFFINS

An empty stage with a white podium in the center, flanked by a chair and a laptop on a small table on the right side. A large wooden arch frames the stage, and screens behind display the word 'wool' and images of colorful yarn. The room has a wooden floor and decorative ceiling lights, with various objects and furniture scattered around.

a showcase of excellence in wool.

WOOL EISTEDDFOD 2023

  • A textured beige card with faint engraved text, partially visible, leaning on a black box. Behind the card, a yellow ball of yarn and several jewelry pieces, including rings and chains, are on a surface.
  • A stage inside a room with wooden paneling and arches, set up with a podium, chairs, and a large screen displaying the 'Wool' logo and an image of colorful wool yarns.
  • People gathered in a large, elegant room with wooden architectural features, engaging in conversations and browsing tables with various items, possibly at a conference or exhibition.
  • A man standing at a podium giving a presentation, with a large screen behind him displaying a slide titled 'Cefin Campbell MS’ and additional information about him.
  • An empty conference room with a stage, a podium with microphones, a chair, a table with chairs, and a large projection screen displaying the logo "Wool Eisteddfod" with sheep images and is set up for a presentation or event.
  • A group of people in formal attire engaging in conversation inside a grand, wood-paneled conference room with a high arched ceiling and projection screens displaying a logo and text.
  • A woman in a pink blazer standing at a podium giving a presentation at an event for Eisteddfod, with a large projected image of sheep in the background. A man in a suit sits to her right on the stage, and a coat is hanging in the foreground.
Graphic design featuring a black circular center with intricate white patterns and text that reads "Wave 2023 Finalists" on a beige background.

FINALISTS.

  • THE WELSH WOOL SHED - MERINO PROJECT

    THE WELSH WOOL COMPANY - FARMER VALUE TRIAL

    WILD WELSH WOOL - FARM TO FINISH

  • NELLIE AND EVE - LOCAL NATURAL DYED YARN

    HANNAH DAVIES - WOOL & GOLD

    LLIO JAMES - WEAVE & DESIGN

    RUTH PACKHAM FELT - FELT DESIGN

  • CAPLIN WOOL - NEW TREATMENT PRODUCTS

    WOOL COFFINS - WITH WOOL ROPE

    AWYR - NEXT TO SKIN CORE LAYERS

    WOOL INSULATION WALES - INSULATION

  • CAMBRIAN WOOL - WELSH WOOL YARN

    BAA VET - BEDDING MADE IN WALES

    ABACA MATTRESSES - WOOL MATTRESSES

  • MUSEUM OF WELSH TEXTILES

    MELIN TREGWYNT

    ELVET MILL REGENERATION

    WOOL WOMEN OF WALES GROUP

    THE NATIONAL WOOL MUSEUM

  • RUTH PACKHAM FELT felted art

    KNIT 365 project with Tyddyn Bryn

    FLWFF dual language craft kits

    GARTHENOR organic yarn and transparency tuesday

  • GLAMORGAN SMALL HOLDERS SOCK PROJECT

    WOOL ON THE VINE - HORTICULTURE

    WOOL SHROUDS & INFANT COFFINS

    TEILWR BACH PROJECT

THEME.

PROVENANCE - LAND AND JOURNEY

This is not just about heritage .. but creating, defining and promoting a future facing heritage for wool in wales.

FARM - MAKERS - INNOVATORS - ENTERPRISE - NEXT GENERATION

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY FROM FARM TO FINISH

JOIN THE WWA HERE.

AN EVENT BY THE WELSH WOOL ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HEADLINE SPONSOR - BRITISH WOOL, WITH FURTHER SUPPORT FROM NFU CYMRU AND NSA

NFU Cymru logo with rainbow-like design and green, yellow, blue, and red colors
Logo for British Wool featuring a red needle with a stylized Union Jack flag at the bottom, on a navy blue background.
NSA logo with blue text inside an oval on a white background.

PRIZES.

FINALISTS & CHAMPIONS

The finalists alongside open ballot business winners were given the opportunity to attend the free Pierhead event at the Senedd at a network event to announce the winners and overall wool champion.

THE TROPHIES ARE SLABS SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED BY SOLID WOOL OF WELSH WOOL 

In addition through the generosity of WONDERWOOL Wales - there will be the opportunity to showcase at a curated trade stand at their show in April 2024.

PLUS  further promotional exciting opportunities for winners that we have over the next year.  

This concept by Wool Wales and Welsh Wool Alliance was delivered alongside our friends at Melin Media who all donated their time and efforts for free.

Close-up of a vintage brown leather object with an embossed brand name 'DODGE'

JUDGES.

Our judges are leaders in their fields and have a wealth of experience within the wool industry in Wales from Farm to Finish. We are thrilled that they are part of the Welsh Wool Alliance.

They have had their own extensive wool journeys in Wales and recognise the turbulent current history, alongside opportunities for the future .. they are also all passionate about rebuilding, protecting and promoting a future facing Welsh Wool Sector.

They Include:

  • Cefin Campbell AS/MS Chair of the Welsh Wool CPG in the Senedd, alongside other members of the Senedd Group from all parties.

  • Wool of Wales

  • The Livery of Wool Men

  • Welsh Wool Alliance

  • Wonderwool Wales

  • RWAS / Royal Welsh Show Shearing

  • British Wool

  • Clare Johns Label

  • The Welsh Girl

Logo of British Wool featuring a red question mark, the Union Jack, and the words 'BRITISH WOOL' on a dark blue background.
Black background with white text and logo promoting the Welsh Wool Alliance, featuring a stylized 'W' and the website welshwoolalliance.com.
A detailed coat of arms featuring a red shield with a white pillow at the center, topped with a helmet, decorative mantling in red, white, and black, and a banner with the Latin phrase "LANA SPES NOSTRA".
Clare Johns logo with a stylized panda graphic and the text 'Clare Johns Style from Farm to Hanger'
Logo for the Wonderwool Wales festival featuring a green background, a red yarn ball with a loose end, and a simple outline of Wales above it.
A white stylized dragon head combined with flowing wave lines on a black background.
Green circular emblem with a white crown at the top and a white dragon at the bottom. The emblem contains the text 'CAFC RWAS' in bold white letters, separated by white lines.
Logo with a red Welsh dragon on a black background, overlayed with the white text 'Wool of Wales'.