New Zealand Wool products
New Zealand is well known for its best quality wool in the world. New Zealand’s “clean and green” image, abundant lush green pastures, distinctive environment and farming practices have enabled wool growers to develop a range of unique systems that meet a wide variety of end-user demands.
Wool was New Zealand’s main export earner from the 1850s until the start of the 20th century, and produced almost 90% of total export income in 1860. Today also New Zealand remains the world’s second largest exporter of wool, with 20% of the world’s exports by volume, after Australia (52%). New Zealand is the world's largest producer and exporter of crossbred wool exports (89 percent of its wool production exported to over 50 countries), and is second only to Australia in the export of all wool.
Wool was New Zealand’s main export earner from the 1850s until the start of the 20th century, and produced almost 90% of total export income in 1860. Today also New Zealand remains the world’s second largest exporter of wool, with 20% of the world’s exports by volume, after Australia (52%). New Zealand is the world's largest producer and exporter of crossbred wool exports (89 percent of its wool production exported to over 50 countries), and is second only to Australia in the export of all wool.
New Zealand wool is highly valued for its whiteness – contributing to rich and vibrant colour – uniformity, soundness, and relative freedom from dark fibres and vegetable matter contamination. New Zealand wool naturally has a unique colour and textile strength and is practically free of vegetable matter as well as being whiter than other varieties of stock bred elsewhere in the world. Being whiter, it can be dyed a multitude of colours. Wool from poorly bred sheep or harsh conditions is often yellow rather than white, and can only be dyed dark colours.
Fibres range from strong wool (>32 micron in diameter) primarily used for premium carpets and rugs, to some of the finest wool in the world. About 50% of New Zealand wool is classed as strong crossbred (35.4 micron and stronger), which is ideal for making carpet. These qualities translate into carpets, interior textiles, and bedding and apparel products that exploit wool’s natural functionality and intrinsic properties to produce stunning aesthetic and performance characteristics. Fine Merino wool is used in a range of market segments from active outdoor wear to designer fashion.
Fibres range from strong wool (>32 micron in diameter) primarily used for premium carpets and rugs, to some of the finest wool in the world. About 50% of New Zealand wool is classed as strong crossbred (35.4 micron and stronger), which is ideal for making carpet. These qualities translate into carpets, interior textiles, and bedding and apparel products that exploit wool’s natural functionality and intrinsic properties to produce stunning aesthetic and performance characteristics. Fine Merino wool is used in a range of market segments from active outdoor wear to designer fashion.
