Gunn Runner is fully loaded ready to fire
New Zealand-based menswear brand Rodd & Gunn has introduced Merino wool into its footwear range, with the launch of its Gunn Runner model. The sneaker is certified for quality by The Woolmark Company.
Making timeless, quality menswear garments and accessories since 1946, Rodd & Gunn is a New Zealand brand that has an ever-growing global presence.
As well as having stores in its native New Zealand, Rodd & Gunn has stores across Europe and North America, and has recently opening its first store in Asia, in Singapore. The brand also has about 100 stores in Australia, including concessions at David Jones and Myer.
The natural environment is in the bones of Rodd & Gunn’s philosophy, which is reflected in the fact that the brand chooses to source premium, natural, biodegradable fabrics, from renewable resources such as wool, cotton and linen.
The result is clothing and accessories that are completely modern, yet firmly grounded in the brand's core values of authenticity and quality. Rodd & Gunn’s wool garments, such as jumpers and jackets, are certified for quality by The Woolmark Company.
In October, Rodd & Gunn expanded its range of wool products by launching its first footwear product incorporating wool. Made in Vietnam, the Gunn Runner is the brand’s bespoke designed hybrid trainer.
The upper of the shoe is knitted from a Merino wool blend that provides a supportive sock-like fit. The shoe has The Woolmark Company’s Wool Rich Blend certification which means the product contains more than 50% pure new wool and meets a range of performance standards.
Rodd & Gunn’s imagery used in the marketing of the new shoe sees the Gunn Runner positioned amongst beautiful Merino wool, highlighting to consumers the natural origin of the shoe’s fibre.
“We selected Merino wool for our blend because of the premium nature of the product. Merino wool is breathable, moisture wicking, temperature regulating and odour resistant, which are all great benefits to have in footwear,” said Footwear and Accessories Designer at Rodd & Gunn, David Gordon.
“The addition of the Woolmark certification logo is easily recognisable and understood by consumers; it delivers a quality assurance adding even further credibility to Rodd & Gunn’s already elevated standards of fabrication and our strict testing requirements.”
More information: www.roddandgunn.com
This article appeared in the December 2023 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
