molagan is Gaelic for sea pebbles
OUT OF STOCK – please contact me if looking to purchase
What is ‘molagan’?
Molagan are felted soaps, handmade in my studio on North Uist. Use them to gently cleanse and exfoliate your skin. They work as an all in one soap bar and woolly sponge, The woolly felted layer also makes the bar lasts longer. The soap is handmade and the wool is from local sheep. ‘Yarnover’ (yarn waste) from Hebridean spinners and weavers, provides a glimpse of colour.
Molagan is a 100% Scottish product, inspired by island life.
Ingredients for molagan.
Soap: a large, handmade, cold-processed soap from the Hebridean Soap Company on the Isle of Lewis. Working together, we have created a bespoke soap enriched with skin-nourishing traditionally-harvested Uist seaweed, with a fresh, natural fragrance created using essence of wild mint and essential oils of lime and rosemary. Certified, sustainable and ethically-sourced RSPO Palm oil only is also used in this product.
Fleece: Scottish blackface and cheviot fleece, from local sheep raised by island crofters. Currently three colours are available. The grey of ‘Storm Petrel’ is created by blending with the North Atlantic rare breed Hebridean sheep.
I wash and card the fleeces at home or carding is done with help from Uistwool.com
Most other felted soap is made using merino wool imported from NZ and Australia sheep. While it felts much faster, merino wool travels far and there are serious welfare issues relating to ‘mulesing’, which is the practice of deliberate removal of the skin around the sheep’s bottom in theory to prevent flystrike. RSPCA Australia recommends mulesing should be the last resort used by farmers to control flystrike
Why ‘molagan’?
‘Molagan’ (with a soft ‘g’) is Gaelic for sea pebbles. Molag being the singular (with an ‘ack’ sounding ending).
Molagan are inspired by calm and stormy walks along the shore. The Hebrides has some of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in the world and they are on my doorstep!
Three colours are available : ‘Balushare Blue’, ‘Sea Pink’ and ‘Storm Petrel’. Balushare is my favourite local beach, wild thyme with its purple-pink lemon-scented flowers grows along the shore and the storm petrel, occasionally glimpsed far out braving the storms, is one of the rarest, ocean-going, sea birds.
How do I care for my molagan?
Pat your molag with a towel or squeeze lovingly and hang up to dry on a towel rack or place on draining dish in a warm place. It will last for ages and thanks to wools’ natural antiseptic qualities, does not go slimy or smelly.
Why is molagan special?
It’s a high-quality, handmade Hebridean product. Felting is a traditional skilled craft practice and takes time, as does the hand-processing of the raw materials. A pure handmade soap with organic essential oils is used as a base and the coloured trace lines on the pebbles are individual, so no molag is like another.
Does molagan have an after life?
Yes! You can turn the woolly case into your own pod or vessel following the instructions on my Facebook page ‘Rebecca Cotton Felt’, find the album ‘molagan and memories: recycle and reuse’ for inspiration. Please post your creations on instagram, hashtag #rebeccacottonfelt. Wool is also biodegradable so it is a ‘good waste’.
