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Weaving Threads of Connection Between Maine and Scotland

Written by: Lisa Luken, PhD Candidate in Leadership and Organization Development at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine, US, and Ian Merrell, Research Fellow at Scotland’s Rural College in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

This is the first blog in a series which is a collaboration between Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the University of Southern Maine. In this series we will explore common rural development issues and entrepreneurial opportunities to overcome these. In this blog Lisa Luken (Maine) and Ian Merrell (Scotland) explore the wool industries and showcase recent entrepreneurial activities that may help kickstart its recovery. 

From Maine to Scotland and beyond, the North Atlantic region is home to entrepreneurs creating livelihoods and providing employment in their rural communities. These communities are also home to thousands of sheep grazing in pastures and hillsides. 

As far as 3,000 years ago, wool was used for making clothing, and in the Middle Ages Scotland became a major exporter of this product. In particular, Shetland became renowned for the quality of its wool and the products that were knitted on the islands. There was also a substantial industrial cluster of wool producers in the Scottish Borders region (Scott, 2022). In the 19th Century Maine also became a major processor and exporter of wool and woollen products (see this useful overview from Bartlett Yarns). However, the Industrial Revolution and advancements in manufacturing (Industrial Mills) were major disruptors of these cottage industries and wool production became increasingly centralised. Synthetic fibres and materials made keeping sheep less economically viable and the entire industry was sent into an elongated period of decline.  

However, recently there has been a resurgence of interest in cottage industries, sustainable alternatives to oil-based materials and cultural heritage that could help reverse the decline of the sheep and wool industries. In this blog we will explore some entrepreneurial activities that are occurring on both sides of the Atlantic, including processing wool, crafting and producing woollen items, operating wool-related tourism businesses, and hosting crafting events.

Maine

In Maine, supporting rural entrepreneurship and developing entrepreneurial ecosystems are identified as strategies for providing employment and economic benefits to communities. Supporting the wool industry is recognised in economic development strategies as important to sustaining rural communities. 

The Slow Fashion Caucus was co-launched by a representative from Maine who is a knitter and former sheep farmer. This nationwide initiative, supported by 11 additional U.S. Congress representatives, focuses on reducing textile waste and building up support for fibre farmers in the U.S.. These efforts align with a growing body of research that highlights the need for sustainability and rural economic development policies in Maine and the North Atlantic. 

With these initiatives in mind, a study is underway to explore the potential benefits of a North Atlantic wool entrepreneur exchange. Findings from this study can inform future programme development to facilitate innovation and connection in the interest of supporting rural entrepreneurs, developing local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, and informing rural policy, while offering strategies for sustainability initiatives and promoting the possibilities and benefits of using wool. 

Scotland

In Scotland there are several interesting entrepreneurial activities based on the wool industry. For example, Shetland Wool Week is a world-renowned celebration of Shetlands rich history of wool production, attracting people from all over the world to visit the islands, providing a useful tourism boost outside of the typical holiday season. 

The Creation Mill in Langholm is a Community Interest Company (i.e. a social enterprise) which aims to promote the textile industry. Through a series of events and workshops they help promote the circular economy, improve residents’ mental health and wellbeing, help residents gain new skills, increase employability and social inclusion.   

Beyond using wool for clothing, companies such as Sisaltech are using sheep wool as a natural alternative for roof insulation. 

Conclusion

Maine and Scotland have similarities in terms of wool production, and we have a lot to learn from each other based on our similarities, which could be shared in a variety of ways, including cross-cultural exchanges. A revitalized wool industry through entrepreneurship can have multiple spillover effects on other policy domains. For example, using wool as a sustainable alternative can aid in developing more circular economies with fewer waste products, and help to replace fast fashion and synthetic fibres. If processing equipment is community-owned then value can be kept within local economies and contribute towards Community Wealth Building ambitions. Highly skilled jobs can be created, focused on craftsmanship, which can boost rural economies and keep important local traditions and cultural heritage alive. The wool industry and various cottage craft industries could also play an important role in fostering inter-generational knowledge exchange and protecting important cultural heritage.