Natural fibres make a splash at US Outdoor Clothing Show
29 Aug '06
3 min read
It's official. The global trend in active and outdoor leisurewear is moving back in support of natural fibres – and it's great news for Woolmark.
One of the world's biggest trade shows for leisure and active apparel, Outdoor Retailer, has just concluded in Salt Lake City, Utah.
With nearly 1000 companies taking up 4000 booth spaces and approximately 22,000 people in attendance, Outdoor Retailer is recognised as a trendsetter for the international active and leisure wear industries.
The Woolmark Company's Executive Director, Brenda McGahan, says Woolmark representatives who attended the show reported that natural fibres are making a strong comeback.
“The big power brands in active and sports wear are turning natural,” she says. “Consumers are looking for clothing that is attractive but anchored in performance. Woolmark's Sportwool fits the bill perfectly.”
Sportwool technology was developed jointly 10 years ago by the then Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation (the predecessor to Australian Wool Services, the owner of Woolmark) and CSIRO as a means of tapping the lucrative global sportswear market.
Now in 2006, Sportwool is manufactured by Woolmark around the world and last year sales of Sportwool represented some 500,000 metres of fabric.
“The outer polyester layers of the Sportwool fabric can be branded with the latest team or fashion colours and logos, while the inner layer of extrafine merino wool provides comfort both in warm and cold climates. It's vapour management capacity is the best there is” says Ms McGahan.
marketing@alchempro.com
