Hi, thanks for visiting Orkney Angora. My name is Tracy Ranger and I run my small, family-run business situated here in Sanday, one of Orkney’s most northerly isles. This unusual cottage industry was originally established by William & Elizabeth Sichel in the spring of 1982. Following the sad loss of Elizabeth, and over 35 years trading, William decided to sell the business in 2017. I had been looking for a challenge so bought it with the intention to run it as a going concern, and I continue to run the operation from my smallholding, here in Sanday, and it will remain a very personally run operation.
Our current spinner, based in China, sources all his wool from the Feixian Angora Farm. William had full, unfettered and unhindered access to the whole property when he visited in February 2014, and was impressed with the standards of husbandry and harvesting (all shearing) he saw.
The farm exceeded the recommendations of DEFRA’s Code of Welfare for Farm Animals in a number of areas. The quiet, unhurried and professional shearing-manner of the all-ladies shearing teams continue to use traditional husbandry and shearing methods that have been used collecting the wool for generations.
I believe the future of the industry lies in working with farmers, in whatever country, to produce the angora ethically. We encourage customers to inquire as to the source of their angora and buy from those using responsible sources.
