Ticino sheep’s wool is an important, albeit these days somewhat overlooked, material in the region. Nonetheless, in the Verzasca Valley it remains at the heart of a major production process based on tradition and innovation. In order to pass on this knowledge, which is closely linked with the valley's rural past, the ‘Associazione Pro Verzasca’, founded in 1933, has been involved in promoting the local culture for over 90 years with a focus on artisanal production – especially wool processing. Over the years, various local actors (institutions, cultural bodies, etc.) have lent their support to this activity.
They use the wool of the local sheep (White Alpine) combined with mohair, llama, alpaca wool and other natural fibres. The production process is still based to an extent on old practices passed through the generations: dyeing, spinning and knitting the wool are done entirely by hand by workers from Pro Verzasca. The wool is washed at Sonogno at the Pro Verzasca centre using a purpose-built machine whereby the material can be washed at low temperatures and without using any chemical products. The dyeing process solely involves natural products, such as leaves, peelings, roots or bark. The spinning is done by hand with the spinning wheel or “firadell” in the spinners’ homes. The products are then sold directly from the “Casa della Lana” at Sonogno and online.
