AWI is taking the latest innovative fabrics and yarns to the product developers, the "inner sanctum" handful of people who were responsible for getting new products and ideas to the Armanis and Pradas. AWI is influencing this process by making sure they have people talking to the product developers about the innovative fabrics and processes they're developing. At the same time, they're listening to what they want and working to deliver on that.
Some of the new fabrics being pitched to European designers include pure wool super light weight, natural easy care fabric with natural stretch that can be machine washed and tumbled dried without the standard chemical treatments usually required in production.
Mr Stewart stated that developed by AWI with Canesis, the fabric's natural stretch and light weight had excited legendary Italian designer and manufacturer Nino Cerutti who was set to develop suits with the fabric. The really exciting opportunities for this fabric are in the worldwide shirt market. They are commericalising with a manufacturer in China first and then they are commercialising it worldwide.
Another revolution is Quick Dry Merino, a new fabric which will dry in three hours after being wrung out. The polymer application behind the fabric was developed in conjunction with CSIRO and when applied stops water being absorbed.
He also included that innovations such as the lightweight shirt and 'Quick Dry Merino' pushed the boundaries of what customers believed was possible with Australian Merino wool. AWI is making sure that the decision-makers in world apparel are excited by what is now possible with Australian Merino wool and want to use these innovations in their fashion lines.
Research & development organization AWI that works with woolgrowers, researchers, processors and manufacturers. The company's activities are financed from Federal budget allocations and wool industry levies. The Federal core allocation to AWI in 2003-2004 is around $14 million.
Australian Wool Innovation Limited
marketing@alchempro.com
