This outcast of the knitwear industry deserves a closer look.

When we talk about a black sheep, we’re far more likely to be thinking of an individual who is somehow on the outside of a family or social group rather than, specifically, the animal itself. But real black sheep – that is, sheep with black wool – do exist in a non-figurative sense. And they, too, are rather persecuted beings.

The wool of black sheep is coarser than white wool and cannot be dyed, which means it is seldom used in commercial garments and, as a consequence, black sheep are often unceremoniously culled, lest their genetic stock infiltrate the flock. Pretty brutal. It’s therefore rather heartwarming to hear that, for autumn/winter 2017, British knitwear brand John Smedley has made a point of using the relatively rare wool of black sheep in a series of garments entitled The Black Sheep x John Smedley.

In doing so, it has not only dealt smartly with the fibre’s issues – mixing it with Falklands merino yarn so it feels soft and cosy against the skin – but also revealed its unique charm. Because black wool cannot be dyed, it has an organic, flecked appearance. This both reflects the atmospheric conditions in which the individual sheep lived and means every black-wool piece is subtly unique. The difference between this unusual fibre and its mass-produced counterpart is plain to see in The Black Sheep x John Smedley garments – a cable-knit crew neck and a cardigan – that have just landed on MR PORTER, and will be exclusive to us until October 2017. Employing a two-tone design, both these pieces contrast the textured, flecked brown colour of black-sheep wool with the fine, liquid merino for which John Smedley is so well known.

Whether you’re looking to up your knitwear game this winter, or are merely up for championing the underdogs of life, you can shop these limited pieces (while they last) via the product links below.