Wool Partners subsidiary inspires innovation

02 Mar '09

4 min read

The 2009 Yarn Innovation Awards, which are organized by Wools of New Zealand the operating subsidiary of Wool Partners International, attracted some of the most inspiring and stimulating wool yarns from partner spinners from around the world.. The Awards were held at Domotex, the largest international flooring trade-fair held annually in Hanover Germany.

According to Iain Abercrombie, CEO, Wool Partners the impact and benefit of organizing the Yarn Innovation Award, one of three different award categories, is immeasurable. “We need to keep pushing boundaries to ensure that yarn, the ingredient for all wool carpets and rugs, incorporates new style/fashion effects and maintains a relevant design presence on the world stage. Our Awards competition at Domatex is part of this strategy,” said Mr Abercrombie.

Eligibility to enter the competition is based on spinners being an accredited Wools of New Zealand partner, meeting the Wools of NZ brand specifications and having their product commercially available.

These yarn innovations using New Zealand wool were creatively translated into soft floorcoverings by the Wools of New Zealand team based at Ilkley, UK. The resulting products combine new colours and creative styling with highly-skilled technical capability – underlining and re-introducing wool as the premier luxury fashion fibre for floors.

The Yarn Innovator of the Year award is presented to the product receiving the most votes for both technical and visual excellence – judged by representatives from over 20 leading international carpet manufacturers.

YARN INNOVATOR 2009 - Martinelli Ginetto S.p.A., Italy
Martinelli, a vertically-integrated Italian company who produce high quality New Zealand wool carpet yarns swept the board as far as the judging was concerned, receiving the accolade of Yarn Innovator 2009 and was also voted as having the Best Visual Yarn. Martinelli carpet yarns are revered for the very best in natural innovation and are recognised by the world's leading carpet manufacturers.

Over recent years, Martinelli has become a leader in the production of high quality chenille yarns for carpets and rugs. Production is focused mainly on natural fibres, particularly New Zealand wool, with blends of cotton, linen, silk and bamboo.

The 'Rustic Wool Chenille' yarn (New Zealand wool with bamboo and cotton), voted Yarn Innovation of 2009, demonstrates the creative flair Italians are famous for. The beautifully soft, velvet-inspired yarn combines shades of olive and aubergine with a sumptuous gold, creating a naturally elegant rustic quality with a random laméd effect. When made into carpet, the resultant carpet is synonymous with a glamorous Scottish tweed from the catwalk.

BEST VISUAL YARN - Martinelli Ginetto S.p.A., Italy
Martinelli's Doupionné Wool Tweed yarn (New Zealand wool and bamboo). This stunning yarn composition of a black wool yarn plied with a white doupionné bamboo creates the most beautiful and stylish mono tweed effect when made into carpet, the lustrous bamboo slubs adding sophisticated glamour to the product. This yarn has been stylised into carpet, identifying with a variety of checks associated with the iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel.