2007 News
Australian Merino features in London, UK
3 October 2007
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has launched a series of displays featuring Australian Merino wool across London with key trade partners including Savile Row to coincide with the launch of the ‘Fleece to Fashion’ Exhibition to be held at Old Billingsgate in London from 25 September – 4 October 2007 as part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate 200 years of the Australian wool trade.
The exhibition will showcase an array of garments containing Australian Merino wool dating back to 1810 when the first bale of wool arrived on the British shores for commercial sale, through to the present day. Outfits include a classic 1950’s Dior day dress, a beautiful Chanel wool dress from the 1980s, Julian McDonald’s red carpet cobweb dress, Tom Ford’s dinner suit and Mick and Bianca Jagger’s bespoke white evening suits, created by Savile Row tailors.
The exhibition has something for everyone involved in the fashion trade and AWI will be hosting a series of workshops for brands and retailers, designers, manufacturers and university students; as well as media. The workshops will elaborate on the latest innovations from AWI which continue to capitalise on the immense natural benefits of Merino wool including Aqua Merino’s cooling benefit, an anti-odour Merino and the use of nanotechnology to develop anti-moth and anti-bacterial benefits for Merino wool. Participants will also be presented with the latest Merino wool trends in colour and yarn, consumer insights from AWI research and mega trends from a leading independent trend expert.
From 24 September, Savile Row Bespoke tailors will come together for the first time with ‘Merino 200’ window displays recognising the important role Australian Merino wool has played within the history of bespoke tailoring, dating back as far as the early 1800s when the trade of wool was first established between Australia and the UK. Windows of bespoke tailors including Anderson and Sheppard, Anthony J.Hewitt, Davies and Sons, Dege and Skinner, Gieves and Hawkes, H.Huntsman and Sons, Henry Poole and Co, Norton and Sons and Richard Anderson will carry the ‘Merino 200’ logo, as well as displays of fabrics containing Australian Merino from traditional Savile Row suppliers.
AWI is also collaborating with Driza-Bone®, the Australian outdoor garment company, to create a window display in the iconic Harrods store in London from 10 September until 20 October. The display will form part of UK launch plans for the new range of Driza-Bone® Activ range of high performance garments made from Australian Merino wool.
Rob Langtry, AWI General Manager Marketing says: “We are thrilled to be working with Savile Row and Drizabone on the window displays and are looking forward to developing strong and lasting business relationships. These projects build on the activities we have already created to celebrate 200 years of the Australian wool industry. It is also great to see the likes of Savile Row who have acknowledged and are epitomising the value of luxury garments which Australian Merino can offer.”
For more information on Australian Merino wool go to www.merinoinnovation.com