Fils de Toisons - wool accessories and clothing

Gwendoline and her family live on a farm nestled in a valley in the commune of Escot, in the Vallée d'Aspe, on the road to the Col de Marie Blanque. She raises Merino ewes and Angora rabbits for their fleece.

Gwendoline makes her own woollen garments and knitted, crocheted and woven accessories. Handcrafted products with the National park spirit - Pyrenees.

We shear the ewes in December, just before lambing. That way, the wool is less damaged. They haven't yet entered the sheepfold for the winter. After shearing, I send some of the wool to micro-spinning mills, and the rest I keep at the farm, where it's all done by hand. Then I receive the yarns, put them into skeins, wash them, dye them or not. Then I transform them into knitted or crocheted fabrics.

I also do vegetable dyeing with plants I collect in nature or from the farm's dye plant garden. I dye according to the quantities harvested. If necessary, I dry the flowers beforehand and then dye the yarns in autumn or winter, depending on demand.

After dyeing, I knit and transform them into garments. Depending on the season, on what I feel like doing or on what I'm asked to do. For the moment, the products on sale are mainly accessories, small pieces, everything from hats, scarves and shawls to children's layette.

For me, the spirit of the national park is based on simple values: respect for flora and fauna. It seemed logical to me to adhere to them, since they're things I do every day. All the techniques I've learned were self-taught, using a few books and, above all, getting my hands dirty.

What's so magical about this business is that you get to do so many different activities. It's really a way of life!