Trade shows help capture global interest in Merino wool

An important time of year for those who source fabric and designs, The Woolmark Company (TWC) has been present at over seven trade shows over the last two months and has reported strong enquiry about the natural fibre at events such as Spin Expo Shanghai, Milano Unica and Première Vision Paris and Spin Expo New York.

With manufacturers, brands and designers all looking to create the next leading designs, Australian Merino wool is capturing significant interest with tools such as The Wool Lab and the Looking for Wool Sourcing Guide.

John Walsh, Managing Director of UK vertical woollen mill Abraham Moon attended Première Vision Paris. "It was an excellent show. A true reflection of a current trend for the woollen, tweed and tweed-type look in both men's and women's wear," he said.

Beryl Gibson, a Member of the Première Vision Colour and Fabric Committee which puts together trends for the show added "autumn/winter 2014/15 is a great season for wool. The fibre is pushing creative boundaries with texture and handle".

The Wool Lab is a seasonal guide to the most inspiring wool trends and best products, created to inspire and inform fashion professionals regarding the infinite potential of Merino wool. A trend book and a sourcing guide, the tool is the result of extensive research undertaken by The Woolmark Company through its global network to select the best wool products worldwide and identify the emerging trends from fashion, design, art, pop culture, music and other fields.

The Wool Lab is created each season in collaboration with the world's most innovative and quality-oriented spinners and weavers. The latest edition offers seven inspiring themes for the upcoming Autumn/Winter 2014/15 season and is a collection of the most beautiful wool products, commercially available, and in-line with the leading fashion and textile trends.

Another development by TWC is the launch of a new service for all companies involved in the wool production pipeline.

The Looking For Wool sourcing guide is an online directory which enables businesses to source wool and wool-rich products for both the apparel and interiors sectors.

Australian Wool Innovation Limited