I have always been a light sleeper but at the end of 2019, I was really struggling physically and mentally. I had just had our youngest in the summer and a combination of hormones and lack of sleep was causing me anxiety. I have always had a heavy wool blanket at the end of the bed and found myself continuously pulling it over me to help get me back to sleep. I began to do some research and realised that heavy weighted blankets were a big trend at the time (probably for similar reasons to me). I started thinking and looking into the bigger problem of what we were sleeping on and under and what we are breathing in, this is what led me to wool bedding. From that moment I knew that I wanted to do something with wool and the mission to give people a better night’s sleep in a sustainable way began.

I now have a small team of brilliant mums in the local area (I live in North Yorkshire) who help a few hours a week and all bring a slightly different, but valuable skill set to the business, they believe in the products and where we would like to take the brand. No two days are the same, so their ability to adapt has been key. For 18 months the business was essentially just me and it was a challenge juggling being a mum and starting a business. My boys have had to get used to sharing me with Floks and this does play on my conscience, but my priority is and always will be my family.

I am genuinely passionate about helping people find better sleep so they can be the best version of themselves. I think the world would be a happier and healthier place if people slept more….plus as a young mum I feel we have a duty to our children to do our bit to try and reverse the terrible damage we have done to the planet. Wool and other regenerative natural fibres are not the only answer, but they are a massive step in the right direction and the more uses we can come up for them the better. From a purely selfish point of view I am also incredibly motivated by the customer reviews we get – we are very lucky to have over 50 5 star reviews on Trustpilot in the last few months – to think we are making a difference to people is really gratifying and I hope we can help many more people in the future.

My grandfather worked in the Wool and Textile trade and he used to grade wool in the 1960s and 70s so I think it is in my blood. When I began my research I was horrified that British wool was being burned as the market price was so low. Floks uses only the finest British Cheviot wool from certified farms. We are part of the British Wool Traceable scheme so we can pinpoint the wool we use down to specific farms. This provenance combined with the fact we only manufacture in the UK and subsequently have a very low carbon footprint is a key part of our DNA and I think has resonated really well with our customers.  We design and manufacture everything in the UK, meaning bales of wool aren’t travelling overseas to be made into bedding, a concept I couldn’t get my head around when we have an abundance of wool and the manufacturing skill set here. The result is a range of luxury British wool bedding… One we believe will help you to sleep your best sleep in a fully sustainable way.

We live and work in North Yorkshire, one of the key areas in the UK for sheep farming, so we are surrounded by these wonderful animals all year round. Yorkshire is famous for woollen processing and textile manufacture and, just over the border in Lancashire they have a rich history in cotton so we are in the perfect area for bedding which combines both natural fibres. We also live in a cold, old house, so a warm winter duvet is essential.

Wool is a brilliant natural fibre and the perfect filling for bedding. It is weightier than down or synthetic fibres but it is also thermoregulating, meaning it keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter (helping move your body temperature by up to 3 degrees). Being too hot or too cold is cited as the biggest reason for poor sleep as it wakes us up, particularly in children who cannot yet regulate their body heat or women going through the menopause. We can also make bespoke duvets for people who have specific requirements.

Wool is also antimicrobial making it brilliant for people with asthma and eczema and it is sustainable as it grows back every year. Finally, it is completely biodegradable… duvets and pillows are two of the worst culprits for landfill in the UK so the fact that wool decomposes in a matter of months is amazing….it even puts nutrients back into the soil, it is completely regenerative!

We combine this wool with certified organic cotton, individually making the duvets under one roof in Yorkshire… this promotes a luxurious and lofty wool duvet.

We only buy the finest British Cheviot wool because it is some of the brightest, cleanest, whitest, and softest wools within British breeds. It has a natural crimp in its fibre that lends itself perfect to bedding. As we are part of the British Wool Traceability scheme we know that at least one of the farms we get our wool from is Scottish (Kintradwell which is just north of Beauly – pictured above). 

We launched with John Lewis last winter and we are focussing on growing our wholesale business with other premium retailers. We have just taken a small unit near us and are planning on opening a homeware shop with Floks and other likeminded brands. We are also planning a range of new products for Christmas, all focussed around sleep and made in the UK. We have so many amazing manufacturers in the UK and Scotland in particular, so I can’t wait to work with some of these artisans in the future.

I wear knitwear all the time and have so many favourite designs such as intarsias and fairisles, but I think my dream piece of knitwear comes from Campbells of Beauly and is made from British wool….naturally! It’s a perfect Emerald green shade which is my go-to colour (as my boys tell me most days).