1. Geolocation and Origin

The journey of each wool strand begins in the alpine pastures of Darik village, near Zorakert 📍View location, Armenia, where shepherd Armen Khechoyan tends to his flock with generational care. These are Balbas sheep, a hearty Transcaucasian breed introduced centuries ago and exceptionally adapted to the local highland terrain, spending 220–255 days grazing freely on plateaus and 110–145 days sheltered through winter. Mature rams weigh 90–105 kg, ewes 50–58 kg, lambs are born at 3.5–4.3 kg, and the breed boasts strong bones, muscular legs, and tough hooves.

Each ewe yields 1.9–2.4 kg of fleece (up to 3.5 kg for rams), featuring locks of white or light-grey wool, slightly lustrous, with a mix of undercoat, intermediate fibres, and protective hair, ideal for worsted spinning, carpet making, and artisan crafts. Average milk production is around 100 kg per lactation, supporting the flock’s health and resilience.

The aim is to make every wool batch fully traceable to Armen’s farm in Darik village, Amasia (see map: farm location), ensuring that each fibre can carry verified data on geographic origin, Balbas breed genetics, season of shearing, annual yield, and environmental context. This level of transparency is intended to feed into a Digital Product Passport (DPP) system, with future integration into blockchain infrastructure. The goal is to enable reliable verification of sustainable practices—such as low-impact grazing that helps reduce deforestation, chemical inputs, and water usage, supporting both ecological impact measurement and consumer trust.

In a world of industrial anonymity, Armen’s approach, rooted in place, pasture, and heritage, is a testament to stewardship and sustainable provenance, now immutably recorded for tomorrow’s conscious marketplace.

Sheep graze on the hills of Darik village

Sheppard and vet Armen Khechoyan prepare sheep for shearing