It may have been sewn in England, Italy or Hong Kong but much of the world's best tailored clothing starts in New Zealand's high country. The South Island is a leading source of Merino wool, generally considered unique for its combination of bright white fibre; high crimp, which makes it long, strong and elastic; consistent in diameter and with very low levels of contamination that make it easier to clean.
Brought to New Zealand in the 18th century, the Merino sheep has flourished amid that country's mountains and glacier fed lakes. Once sheared, the fleece is flown to England, Scotland and Italy where it is woven. Its journey continues through the hands of tailors around the world, and finally, after travelling much of the way around the planet, into the wardrobes of the customers of those tailors.
But it all begins in one of the most pristine places on earth.
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4 comments:
While I have nothing but nice things to say about the Kiwis (New Zealanders), shouldn't this post be about AUSTRALIA!?
Australia produces over half the world's Merino and is not only the leading exporter of this amazing wool but is also by far the world leader in innovation and technology.
For example, see this link about the annual Zegna awards for the best Aussie wool product.
http://www.aswga.com/ERMENEGILDO%20ZEGNA%202010%20WOOL%20AWARDS%20WINNERS%20PRESS%20RELEASE.pdf
Rgds
Nick
While I have nothing but nice things to say about the Australians, the post is about New Zealand Merino as it is the source for the yarn used by a couple of my regular suppliers.
But you are right. I should have clarified that great Merino also comes from Australia.
I find it interesting that the mills are still located in the same places where they were first built in the industrial revolution. Alexander Hamilton did his best to steal the technology. Eventually the US had a thriving textile industry, now since lost to Mexico, although it wasn't high end textiles any longer. But, for its other former colonies, the British Isles still do the people work associated with cloth production and the former colonies still perform the same raw materials function they did hundreds of years ago.
Will, I think a field trip is in order. Don't you want to bring your blog abroad? Imagine reverse-engineering one of your favorite garments, beginning at the most finished place, the tailor, and moving backwards to the mills, and bring us to some unexpected place where the sheep who gave you your tweed were raised. It would be a magnificent journey, and perhaps a tax write-off to boot. Please do consider it. This blog is already the life that many of your readers dream of in some way, either as composers of such interesting articles themselves or at least envisioning themselves in such regalia.
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