BUYING children's clothes from New Zealand prompted Cressy, Tasmania, mother Eliza Tole to look around for an Australian alternative.
Ms Tole grew up on a wool growing property at Jericho, in Tasmania's Midlands, and thought it would be good to incorporate Australian fleece in children's garments.
She came up with Little Peeps Fleece; finding a pattern and garment maker to produce the clothes in Tasmania.
"Over time, things went from there," Ms Tole said.
"The wool comes from a wholesaler in Melbourne, but it is all Australian merino wool, and the clothes are manufactured in Devonport," Ms Tole said.
"The buttons, zips, labels – it's all Australian.
"I have always searched for the most natural fibres, to both keep my children (Charlie, Phoebe and Georgie) warm and cool, yet free to play and remain stylish," she said.
"I wished I could find quality, local garments that allow them to play freely, not requiring numerous layers that felt so restricting."
The products use 100 per cent, 18.5 micron Merino wool, which helped support the local industry.
"I thought it would be great to show off affordable Australian Merino wool in children's wear," Ms Tole said.
Now at Cressy, Ms Tole and husband run prime lambs and were cropping the "three P's" – peas, potatoes and poppies."
"My dad had a Merino stud and used to have field days, and on farm sales, so I guess from when I was quite young I knew wool was important to us," Ms Tole said.
"I have just always liked wool."
It had taken three to four years to grow the business to where it was now.
"It did take quite a while to find a wholesaler of Australian Merino fabric, which was suitable," Ms Tole said.
"I knew a pattern maker who used to work with a Merino based company in South Australia, so she knew the nature of the fabric, which was handy."
Little Peeps Fleece has been selling on-line, through markets, at AgFest, Campbell Town show and would also be at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, she said.
Online sales were picking up, with garments going as far away as Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as Victoria and NSW.
The Tasmanian Wool Centre, in Ross, was also taking the garments now but the greatest resistance to rapid expansion was cost, she said.
"I think people want to buy these clothes, but there is a lot in the market which is cheaper, everyone's dollar is precious; resistance is based on the price point."
Garments were currently made in sizes one to 10, with this year's range including a skirt and leggings and zip front jumper, in bright and classic children's colors.
"I think it's just trying to educate people, I suppose, on buying a sustainable product that will go the distance, rather than disposable garments that are cheap.
"I think people are slowly learning the quality and workmanship is worth paying for and it's a garment that can see not one child, but two or three."
Ms Tole said the next range she was likely to develop was for the "tweenie" (kids aged 10 to 14) market.
The next step would be to sell in shopping centres, through wholesalers.
"For me, personally, I love to be able to utilise a natural product, which is right on our doorstep.
"There is no better match for children's clothing, adults clothing, than wool," Ms Tole said.
