Textiles - Wool goes al fresco
A collaboration between AWI and a leading Chinese manufacturer has created a new range of Merino fabrics for warmer weather
A new range of wool fabrics especially created for warmer weather has resulted from collaboration between AWI and the Shandong Ruyi Group (Ruyi) – one of the most famous textile and garment manufacturers in China. The range of fabrics in the Merino Fresco collection have excellent breathability and have been specially created for the spring and summer seasons.
There are both formal and casual woven textiles in the collection. One range includes pure Australian Merino wool and wool/silk blend woven suit fabrics, high in quality and the ideal choice for men’s formal suiting. Another range includes blends of Australian Merino wool with silk, linen or cotton to provide a speciality fabric perfect for smart casual wear, including jackets, trousers and shirting.
The Merino Fresco textiles available are luxuriously smooth, have a soft handle and natural lustre. The colours available are elegant; patterns include refined check, pinstripes, traditional herringbones and ‘barely there’ stripes.
The fabric provides unique qualities, including anti-static, anti-bacterial and anti-creasing properties.
The natural durability, breathability, comfort, drape and tailorability of Australian Merino wool are all inherent attributes of Merino Fresco, with the addition of new finishing technologies to ensure the fabrics are easy to care for, have a comfortable level of stretch and have anti-stain qualities.
Jimmy Jackson, global product development manager at AWI, says “working with recognised textile manufacturing organisations such as Ruyi is invaluable for product development”.
Ruyi Group has certificates for ISO9001 (International Organisation for Standardisation, responsible for international quality standards) and ISO14001 and has set up a green channel to meet the product requirements of the international apparel market. The company takes a leading role in technological innovation and product research in China, and Ruyi has been credited by the China Textile Information Center as the Wool Textile Research and Development Base.
“The demand for high-quality men’s suits in China booms every year with the growing population,” says Mr Qiu Dong, managing director of the Shandong Ruyi Group. “Australian Merino wool is recognised in China as a high-quality and luxurious fibre and it is important we continue to develop new innovative Australian Merino wool fabrics to fit the needs and requirements of this strong segment within the apparel market.”
Merino Fresco is one of many developments being initiated by AWI to ensure Australian Merino wool fabrics are appropriate for the demands of the apparel marketplace – and suitable for all seasons, including spring and summer.
Merino Fresco was displayed at the Intertextile trade fair in Beijing in March and will be available through Shandong Ruyi Group in 2007.
Intertextile, which attracts more than 45,000 key buyers, designers and retailers who attend to source garment fabrics and accessories, is one of the leading apparel textile trade fairs in the world.
More information: www.chinaruyi.com/indexe.asp
See also: Monsoon season wool and New heights for ski wool.
Return to Beyond the Bale Issue 28 index page.