AUSTRALIAN WOOL INNOVATION – “The Yarn Podcast – In the latest edition we hear from AWI Chairman Wal Merriman, how wool demand continues to grow in the active outdoor market and some market predictions from a very good source.”
FIBRE2FASHION – “The Woolmark Company, global authority on wool, has announced the winners of the Wool Runway design competition organised for tertiary Indian students. Winners of the competition, which was aimed at giving a kick-start to the students’ fashion career, received financial support and opportunities to intern with Raymond, Madura Fashion & Lifestyle and Grazia.”
VOXY – Contributor: Fuseworks Media – “Auckland-based Texus Fibre, a leader in developing functional materials derived from natural wool, has signed a wide-ranging investment and distribution agreement with Auckland company, Healthy Breath Limited (HBL), which will see the wool-based Helix Filter from Texus deployed in a new generation of urban face masks marketed to Asian consumers.”
FARM WEEKLY – by Annabelle Cleeland – “A DAMNING report which reveals the failures of the country’s mob-based tracing of sheep has been postponed for public release until March while industry groups grapple with the findings.
The Sheepcatcher II report assesses a national sheep traceability exercise undertaken in June, testing the visual National Livestock Identification System for sheep and goats against the National Livestock Performance Standards (NLPS).”
ABC RURAL – by Bridget Fitzgerald – “It is not an uncommon sight to see women working in shearing sheds.
According to Australian Wool Innovation, women make up the majority of wool handlers, although female shearers are still relatively rare. But Bengworden wool grower Alan Sheridan has been in the industry since 1949 and this year was the first year he had worked with a female led crew.”
SCOOP INDEPENDENT NEWS – Press Release: Wool Services International – “New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd’s CEO, Mr John Dawson reports that the 6700 bales of North Island wool on offer saw a 93 percent clearance with most types firm to dearer.
The weighted currency indicator was down 2.17 percent compared to the previous sale, helping stimulate local levels in some instances, aided by recent opportunistic offshore buying, particularly in the poorer colour types.”
FARM WEEKLY – by Mal Gill – “RESURGENT demand on Thursday last week put paid to suggestions wool buyers had maxed out their credit cards in a November pre-Christmas shopping spree.
A two-sale price slump at the Western Wool Centre (WWC), and Melbourne and Sydney centres also, prior to Thursday appears to have been a steadying correction for a market considered by some to be in danger of turning the tender festive season lamb into overdone mutton.”
THE WEEKLY TIMES – by Fiona Myers – “WOOL prices have surged a stunning 28 per cent in the past two years, capped by rises in the final sales for the year.
And a forecast increase in wool production next season is not expected to dampen prices.”
THE WEEKLY TIMES – by Nicola Bell – “THE wool market had its strongest finish to a calendar year on record last week.
The benchmark Eastern Market Indicator closed at 1355c/kg and according to the Australian Wool Exchange it is the highest calendar year closing figure on record.”
THE FASHION LAW – “Ermenegildo Zegna is joining the ranks of Hermès, LVMH, and Kering, among others at the truly upper echelon of the luxury goods industry. The $1.3 billion Italian suiting company has acquired an ownership stake in Achill, a 6,100-acre farm about 40 minutes east of Armidale, Australia, complete with 10,000 sheep that have been bred to produce some of the finest merino wool on earth.”
