The next step once the Vietnamese companies feel confident to produce good quality wool garments is to introduce them to potential retail and brand buyers across the world. The first delegation of buyers from Japan comprising of 10 companies will travel to Vietnam in July to meet The Woolmark Company’s Vietnamese partners.

“We are confident that this visit will see some commercial business take place,” Mr Jackson said. “This confidence is boosted by the fact that some of our partners have already received commercial orders for products made from Australian wool.”

Following the visit of Japanese buyers, The Woolmark Company is planning a similar visit with Korean retailers and in the future will emulate similar visits with buyers from Europe and the USA.

Domestic sales

As the project name ‘Out of Vietnam’ suggests, business in Vietnam is primarily export focussed. However, The Woolmark Company is working with Dopimex in Ho Chi Minh City to produce a classic ladies Vietnamese dress called the áo dài. This traditional national dress is still very popular and frequently worn by Vietnamese women today.

“Traditionally, the garment is made from silk,” Mr Jackson said. “But today it is increasingly made from polyester. Yet with the increasing wages in Vietnam we felt there is a chance for wool, which has great breathability properties and is able to cope with Vietnam’s warmer climate.”

Woolmark