Although wool has been transformed into a global industry, so much of Europe’s wool still ends up discarded each year – overlooked, undervalued, and dismissed as waste. However, Beatriz Isca sees wool through a different lens and ‘Wool Matters’ stands as a powerful reminder of how much we can learn from something as seemingly simple as wool.

Wool Matters is the master’s thesis project of the multidisciplinary designer Beatriz. ‘It began with a belief in wool’s power to manifest the intricate connections between land, animals, and people. Beatriz discovered wool’s capacity as a universal language, transcending social, generational, and cultural barriers, and serving as a bridge that connects diverse lives and stories. Her work in ‘Wool Matters’ adopts a post-humanistic lens to understand the symbiotic relationships between people, animals and land.  Aware of human and non-human actors in wool’s ecosystem, she has engaged with different actors in the local wool landscape to uncover opportunities and address gaps. She is highlighting wool’s inherent worth, with the hope to encourage a more circular, respectful approach to textiles—one that sees humans, animals, and the environment as interconnected parts of a shared ecosystem.

“The devaluation of local wool in Europe reflects the anthropocentric view and the unsustainable ways of living of modern society, that perpetuates the celebration of capitalism at the cost of ecological degradation and social exploitation,” she says. Looking beyond traditional profit-driven industries and focusing on local and craft-based practices, Beatriz aims to redefine our relationship with wool—and, in turn, with nature.

When it comes to community-centric sustainable practices, Beatriz advocates for a shift back to natural rhythms—those governed by seasons and the meticulous pace of handcrafting—encouraging a more humane and ecologically mindful way of living. Her mission extends beyond mere dialogue; it’s about crafting a vision that repositions decision-making into the hands of local communities. By involving designers more deeply in societal roles, Beatriz believes in empowering communities to challenge and reshape the structures that define our world.

“The devaluation of local wool in Europe reflects the anthropocentric view and the unsustainable ways of living of modern society, that perpetuates the celebration of capitalism at the cost of ecological degradation and social exploitation.”