A New York fashion show surprised everyone by presenting a full clothing collection made entirely from the wool of rescued gay sheep. The event, held at the Altman Building in Chelsea, was titled “I Wool Survive” and was created by LGBTQ dating app Grindr in partnership with designer Michael Schmidt and the German nonprofit Rainbow Wool.
The idea came from a surprising fact: around one in twelve rams prefers other male sheep. At many farms, these rams are considered useless for breeding and are often killed. Rainbow Wool rescues these animals and uses their wool to raise awareness about their mistreatment.
Designer Michael Schmidt learned from the nonprofit that many rams are slaughtered simply because they do not mate with females. Instead of letting the wool of these rescued sheep go to waste, he decided to turn it into art. Schmidt, known for creating outfits for stars like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, designed 36 looks using only wool from these rescued rams.
The show celebrated queer culture with playful and bold outfits. Styled by Alec Malin, the runway featured characters inspired by classic gay iconography—like sailors, firefighters, leathermen, athletes, and even a farmer in overalls. Everything from clothing to accessories was knitted, creating a colourful and imaginative display. Schmidt said the goal was to show that homosexuality exists in the animal kingdom, breaking the myth that being gay is a choice.
Rainbow Wool founder Michael Stucke has been rescuing such sheep since 1995. His 100-acre farm houses more than 500 sheep, including 35 rescued gay rams with fun names like “Marvin Gay” and “Jean Woll Gaultier.” Stucke believes every animal deserves dignity, regardless of breeding ability.
By bringing the wool of these animals to the runway, the project aims to inspire change in farming practices. Schmidt hopes farmers worldwide will adopt compassionate methods and stop killing rams that do not mate with females.
The NYC show not only highlighted cruelty faced by these animals but also turned their wool into a powerful message about acceptance, diversity, and humane treatment.
