Wool finds pride of place at Melbourne Fashion Festival

The Australian Wool Innovation explains that the vast majority of Australian wool is classified as fine apparel, suited to the manufacture of high-quality fashion apparel. Recognized by many as the world’s whitest, softest and most lavish natural fibre, Australian Merino wool has won its spur.

Among the passionate people who have dedicated years in building-up Australian wool quality and reputation, you will find Warwick Rolfe. Warwick has spent 30 years in the industry. Before delving into the retail sector with the Woolerina range of 100% pure Australian merino wool clothing, Warwick was a wool buyer, classer and broker.

“The day I walked into the wool stores in Sydney on my first day as a wool buyer, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I just love wool”.  Warwick then went on to spend time classing in sheds in central NSW before moving to Forbes in 1980 where he opened the doors of Jemalong Wool, spending 25 years as a wool broker.

After a few years spent working in other agricultural industries, the call of the fleece saw him return to his main love in the early 2000’s, initially working with The Egelabra Wool Grower’s Association to improve market prospects for member’s wool lots.

Warwick spent time working with early stage processors to develop a beautifully fine yarn and then with knitters to create a very fine fabric.  With wool now being sourced from the well-recognised fine wool growing regions of Boorowa and Yass in NSW, the Woolerina story continues to remain close to Forbes.

With no fine-wool processing plants left in Australia, the greasy wool must now be processed and spun into yarn off-shore, however it is returned to Australia where Warwick collects it from the docks in Melbourne and from there the yarn makes its way through knitting, dying, cutting and sewing before being packed up and warehoused at Woolerina’s base at Forbes in central NSW.

“It’s a long process with a few middle-men, however the passion to keep our product as Australian made as possible is very strong” Warwick say. “If I had to send any more of the process off-shore, I just wouldn’t do it; I’m passionate about supporting industry in Australia”.

Woolerina brand was launched in 2006. Each stage of production is closely monitored, from raw wool processing through spinning, knitting and dying to garment construction. In December 2012, Woolerina gained accreditation with Ethical Clothing Australia, ensuring that everyone involved in the local production receive fair wage and work in good conditions.

Woolerina range of 100% pure Australian merino wool clothing is available on their online shop and in 27 retail stockists across Australia.

Ethical Clothing Australia