Representatives of one of the China’s – and the world’s – biggest wool production and suit making businesses were in Australia last week to see where the supply chain begins.
One of three Nanshan Fabric & Garment Company Ltd representatives Wang Sheng, who is the tops factory director, said the trip to Tasmania and Victoria helped him and his colleagues understand Australia’s wool industry. He said they were impressed by our farms, logistics and research and development.
Cao Yiru, the general director of Nanshan Wool Fabric, said via a translator that the group found the farm management and wool selling logistics at the Melbourne’s wool selling centre very well organised.
The trip also included a visit to Deaking University to discuss new wastewater treatment research, and visit to Australian suit maker Anthony Squires’ headquarters.
“We now feel more confident in Australian wool,” Mr Cao said.
The group, which also included Nanshan Fabric & Garment Company’s chief engineer Liu Gangzhong, visited two Tasmanian superfine woolgrowers – the von Bibra family, Beaufront, Ross, and Simon Cameron, Kingston, Campbelltown. The group said they were very impressed by the farms’ environmental protections and animal husbandry.
“Out of all of the textiles, wool is one of the best in terms of its performance,” Mr Wang said.
“But wool is a traditional fibre used mainly in classic clothing, and as fashion is getting more casual, wool is changing with it.”
Woolmark’s general manager of product development and commercialisation Jimmy Jackson said Nanshan used 7 to 8 million tonnes of Australian wool each year. He said they traditionally made men’s suit fabrics and whole suits, and three to five years ago, they could not keep up with demand.
“Unfortunately, the global suit business has turned down, as the global economy has experienced a downturn and the ‘casualisation’ of fashion has continued,” he said. Mr Jackson said hosting the delegation not only helped to broaden their understanding of Australian wool, but also helped to develop projects for the coming years, to ensure strong demand for Australian wool.
He said ideas for increasing the use and profile of superfine Australian wool included “farm to fashion” marketing, doing more exclusive women’s clothing and accessories and growing the use of wool in non-traditional market segments, such as active wear.
“We need innovation by working with the manufacturing sector,” he said. “We work out which projects we will work on together for the next two or three years.”
