Woolgrowers from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland recently returned from a two-week ‘The Heritage of Wool’ study tour around the United Kingdom and Italy.
Facilitated by Fox & Lillie Rural, the group of 26 explored a variety of woollen mills, garment manufacturers and industry events, to see the latest innovations and trends that are impacting the current wool market.
The tour started in the Yorkshire region of the UK, the country’s biggest woolgrowing area, and headed to Milan, Viella and Marzotto in Italy.
Fox & Lillie Rural’s Eamon Timms said a highlight of the trip was being surprised on their visit to Venice with their very own iconic blue and white-striped uniform, which comprised of a t-shirt using Reda fabric and a sweater made from Tollegno yarn, identical to the ones worn by the renowned gondoliers.
It came about from Woolmark’s recent collaboration with the Association of Venetian Gondoliers and historical Italian brand Emilio Ceccato, to revive the incorporation of wool in the gondolier uniforms.
“There are 20 million visitors to Venice each year, so having a Woolmark there is great exposure in a place where advertising is still not the norm,” Mr Timms said.
He said visits to mills and manufacturers provided behind-the-scenes insight into the next step of the supply chain.
“We were able to see the spinning process, cloth being woven and finished, the fabrics being knitted, and even some of the felted fabrics being made,” he said.
The group also attended Pitti Filati in Florence, one of the main international events for the knitting yarn industry, where there were lots of fabric innovations on display.
“This is the first of all of the trade fairs, and it sets the tone for the northern hemisphere’s coming autumn and winter fashion collections,” he said.
Mr Timms said the tour was rewarding for woolgrowers, as they were able to see the demand for their wool, and where it is going.
“They were very pleased to see the increase in the amount of products that now contain Merino wool, and the diversification of knitwear,” he said.
“Wool is clearly becoming an ingredient in a much wider variety of products.”
He said the positivity currently held in the Australian sheep and wool industry was reflected in the countries they visited.
“There’s a real undercurrent of belief that wool is in a very good place at the moment, natural fibres have garnered a great deal of support in the last few years and wool is very much a part of that,” he said.