After careful consideration, it is with great regret that we write to inform you that Shetland Wool Week 2021 is cancelled due to the ongoing concerns relating to the Coronavirus pandemic. We are deeply saddened that our annual gathering of wool aficionados and friends will not take place this autumn.

We have held off in the hope that there would be more positive news. While the initial roll out of vaccines is encouraging, it is still a time of great uncertainty and our primary concern is for the safety of the island community and our Wool Week visitors, who join us from all over the world. It is our view that cancelling the event is the responsible thing to do.

Having reviewed the situation in detail we do not feel we can deliver a socially distanced physical event that will capture the spirit of SWW. So many of you join us to make friends in large and small groups, be spontaneous, take hands-on, practical classes, and drop in to the numerous events that are laid on by the Shetland public throughout the isles.

We want to deliver a Wool Week that you have come to know and love and we will prepare for something really special for 2022.

For this year though, we will replace the event with an online version during what would have been SWW: 25 September – 3 October 2021 and build on the success and enthusiasm for last year’s virtual programme. A SWW Annual publication for 2021 is also planned.

As always, we thank you for your continued support and we look forward to sharing our virtual plans with you. In the meantime you can look back at some of our virtual highlights from last year on our YouTube channel and on SWW IGTV.

The Campaign for Wool’s annual Wool Week is designed to educate, inspire and promote the benefits of wool. This will run from the 25th September 3rd October.