Why a partnership with a bedding company makes sense
Noils—these fibers too short to be spun—are not waste. Why Makeloo Studio is exploring a bedding partnership in Lavaltrie, and what "industrial symbiosis" changes for the entire region.
When thinking about a spinning mill's production waste, one's imagination doesn't immediately turn to duvets and pillows. And yet, it is precisely in this direction that Makeloo Studio is actively exploring a promising partnership with a high-end bedding company also established in Lavaltrie.
Noils, those fibers we thought were lost
To understand the logic behind this partnership, we need to look at noils — fibers too short to be spun, systematically removed during our combing process. Rather than considering these residues as worthless by-products, Makeloo Studio is actively seeking outlets where their natural properties — thermal insulation, moisture regulation, natural fire resistance — can be fully exploited. High-end bedding manufacturing represents exactly this type of outlet, where these same properties become central selling points.
An "industrial symbiosis"
This synergy perfectly illustrates what is called, in the language of the circular economy, an "industrial symbiosis": two distinct companies, physically located near each other, where the residues of one become the raw material for the other. Rather than transporting these residues over long distances to a distant outlet, or worse, discarding them, a local partnership allows the value chain to be closed directly at the Lanaudière regional level.
Why it matters, even to you
This type of partnership may seem far removed from your personal knitting or spinning practice, but it illustrates an important truth about the economic future of an artisan spinning mill like Makeloo Studio: sustainable profitability does not solely rely on selling skeins in a shop. It also depends on the ability to find economic value in every component of the processed material, including those that, at first glance, seem the least noble.
This type of collaboration between neighboring businesses, sharing a common vision of local valorization, also illustrates a model that we hope to see multiply elsewhere in Quebec: rather than each company isolating itself to eliminate its own waste, a network of complementary businesses, located in the same region, can collectively transform what would otherwise be lost into a true shared value chain.
Discover our local Quebec wool →
Source: Makeloo Studio Laine Québec inc. Business Plan (2026).