The Campaign for Wool, an initiative launched in 2010 by Prince Charles to promote the wool industry, made its U.S. debut on September 24, the first day of “Wool Week.” On September 27, the campaign took over Midtown’s Bryant Park with an installation called “Wool Uncovered.”
The Campaign for Wool worked with Mission Public Relations to pull off the promotion, which included bringing in about 30 live sheep to graze inside a 40- by 40-foot clear-sided pen on the lawn and covering the park’s Fountain Terrace in colorful carpet. The fountain itself was drained, and then filled and draped in wool, turning it into an art installation of sorts. “The idea was to mimic the flow of water from the fountain using wool fibers,” says Mission events director Liz Hatton. The entire installation began at 9 p.m. on Wednesday and was completed in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Nuage Designs created custom lounge furniture, which was scattered around the carpeted area along with park seats covered in eye-catching wool chair covers provided by Harris Tweed. Park-goers were invited to listen to speakers like Esquire fashion director Nick Sullivan and interior designer Steven Gambrel in the lounge, as well as to enter for a chance to win a Vi-Spring wool mattress or join a group of knitters.
