Australian wool auctions reacted sharply this week to negative news arising from China. Just when we thought we had heard all reasons as to why markets reduce the commodity value, this week revealed a fresh twist. Access to power in China has been vastly reduced and impacted heavily on many wool mills ability to operate securely and predictably, pushing the Australian wool price downwards for the week. A clearance r... Read More

The fifth British Wool sale of the 2021 season took place and despite challenges in terms of haulage, transport and energy prices, the wool market sees continuing strong demand and improving prices. Last week’s sale saw competitive bidding across the full range of types; prices increased as a result and there was a 99% clearance with 1.2 million kilos of wool sold. Once again there was particular interest in the ... Read More

Jock Laurie was elected by AWI shareholders to the AWI Board on 20 November 2015. He was appointed as Chairman of the AWI Board on 30 June 2021, following Ms Garnsey’s resignation as Chairman. Mr Laurie’s letter is as follows: On behalf of Australian woolgrowers, I would first like to thank the immediate past Chairman Ms Colette Garnsey for her contribution to the wool industry through her role as Chairman and... Read More

A new technology is being developed as part of an AWI- funded project that could enable woolgrowers to easily and cost effectively analyse the wool follicle density of sheep at a much younger age (prior to first shearing) than is currently possible. This would enable far more rapid genetic improvement in both wool production (weight) and quality (diameter). The wool-producing ‘factory’ of the sheep are the millio... Read More

Wool Britannia is a new 100% British wool carpet yarn which has been developed by the Headlam Group in partnership with British Wool and with the support of the Campaign for Wool.  Every linear metre of the yarn includes wool sourced from farms situated in each of our four nations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales, making it truly British wool.  The aim of this yarn is to increase the usage of British wo... Read More

New Zealand Campaign for Wool strategy to turn the tide on the struggles faced by New Zealand wool growers. Campaign for Wool Chairman Tom O’Sullivan – himself a fourth-generation sheep farmer – says the strategy heralds a turning point for the wool industry, and growers should take heart. “I believe we’re at an important crossroads for strong wool,” he says. “Globally, consumers are starting to actively seek out na... Read More

The monthly comparisons of Total Lots, Bales and Weight for September 2021 compared with the same period last season are: +23.8%, +20.4% and +19.7% respectively. Note that testing volumes for September 2020 last year were unaffected by COVID restrictions across Australia when Total Lots, Bale and Weight for September 2020 were: +2.8%, +7.1 and +7.8% respectively when compared with September 2019. The progressi... Read More

New Zealand’s largest furniture manufacturer and retailer, Big Save Furniture, has committed to using more New Zealand wool in its products and pay growers a fair price. David Anderson asked managing director Tom McKimm about this move. ‘Our product development team has been working on some exciting materials using with upcycled plastic from the ocean in a new selection of bedding in our Rest & Restore range. As ... Read More

UK retailer Next and struggling US fashion giant Gap have formed a joint venture that will see Next manage Gap’s UK website and place concessions in some stores. The move will preserve some of Gap’s physical presence on the High Street after Gap announced in July it would close all of its UK stores. It is a similar deal to one signed with clothing brand Reiss earlier this year. Next is also expanding the brand... Read More

The New Zealand Merino Company has achieved a record net profit after tax of $4.3 million for the year ended June 30. The company’s full year earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) was $6.4million, which was a significant increase on the forecast $1.9 million. The company’s chief executive, John Brakenridge said it was a very pleasing result given the considerable uncertainty the business had faced in the pas... Read More

Conrayn Merino Stud in Berridale, NSW, has won the prestigious Grand Champion prize at the 2021 Australian Fleece Competition. The Australian Fleece Competition is the largest fully measured fleece competition in the world, attracting more than 400 entries from 145 exhibitors. The competition is a joint effort by Nutrien Ag Solutions, the Australian Sheep Breeders Association and the Australian Wool Testing Au... Read More

A Südwolle spokesperson says: the new normal will not be a return to our previous lives. This complicated period experienced by the whole world has planted many seeds of change. Südwolle Group wants to contribute to this awareness, offering state-of-the-art proposals for a new lifestyle in line with our emerging sensibility. Sustainable innovation is a central value for all Südwolle Group collections. The company... Read More

French luxury fashion firm Kering has announced that all of its brands, including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen, will no longer use fur after their Fall 2022 collections. The decision comes four years after Gucci, the company’s most famous label, stated that it will no longer use fur. Prada, Burberry, and outerwear specialist Canada Goose, which had come under fire for its use of coyote ... Read More