At present, there are only few woollen mills left in North America and only two in the Maritimes.
Due to mismanagement and competition from international markets, about 140 mills in the region were shutdown.
But two wollen mills, New Brunswick's Briggs & Little Woolen Mills Ltd and MacAusland's Woollen Mills Ltd have survived.
The companies survived on niche market that helps them from getting collapsed.
Briggs & Little has been producing woollen yarn for past 150 years and it is the oldest woollen mill in the Canada. It has about 23 employees.
The company is more interested in homespun products than in fads like synthetic eyelash wool.
The majority of raw material is purchased from domestic market and individual producers in Canada.
Some people thought that it is crazy to rebuild Briggs & Little building after a fire destroyed the mill in 1994.
MacAusland's Woollen Mills is located in Bloomfield and employs more than 20 workers.
They purchase pure wool yarn and blankets form markets in Canada and US. It is the only mill in Atlantic Canada to produce 100 percent virgin wool blankets.
In 1973, mill was converted to electricity. The latest machinery that it has is wool-washing machine that was built in 1949.
marketing@alchempro.com
