Merino at ISPO
With the industry’s continued focus on sustainability (sustainability is no longer a trend, it is an inherent aspect of the textile industry), the world’s leading sports and outdoor trade show ISPO was this year again the perfect opportunity for brands to drive demand for Merino wool.
Polar explorer George Bullard launching the Dark Ice Project on The Woolmark Company stand at the ISPO sports and outdoor trade show.
With the industry’s continued focus on sustainability (sustainability is no longer a trend, it is an inherent aspect of the textile industry), the world’s leading sports and outdoor trade show ISPO was this year again the perfect opportunity for brands to drive demand for Merino wool.
Merino wool’s presence continues to increase in the rapidly growing sports and outdoor market. This was very much in evidence at the ISPO trade show in January in Munich which attracted more than 80,000 visitors from more than 120 countries.
Increased competition in the activewear market means a growing number of brands are looking to innovate with natural performance fibres, such as Australian Merino wool. This move not only allows for a point of difference, but also fulfils the demands of environmentally-aware consumers seeking a healthier lifestyle.
AWI’s marketing arm The Woolmark Company once again exhibited at ISPO, displaying innovative wool products – for activities such as yoga, hiking and cycling – and championing Australian wool’s natural benefits and technical properties.
In a major new initiative, The Woolmark Company along with adidas, BYBORRE and GORE-TEX were announced as official technical partners for the ‘Dark Ice Project’, an ambitious winter expedition to the Arctic, strategised by three of Britain’s most accomplished polar explorers. The four companies have been tasked to design and create a kit to meet the athletes’ physiological and environmental needs. The explorers’ fibre of choice, Merino wool, provided the starting point for the kit’s development. A selection of the garments was on show at The Woolmark Company’s stand at ISPO before they go through the final round of testing.
Also on display on The Woolmark Company stand was a prototype yoga collection illustrating the full potential of Merino wool in technical seamless performance apparel. Partnering with knitting machine manufacturer Santoni Shanghai and designed by innovative knitwear designers Studio Eva x Carola, the seamless yoga collection was created using Merino wool yarn from Südwolle Group.
The latest edition of AWI’s The Wool Lab Sport sourcing guide was again available for viewing, providing visiting manufacturers and brands with direct access to the world’s most innovative technical performance fabrics and yarns. The inaugural The Wool Lab Vision was also on show.
WOOL WINNERS OF ISPO AWARDS
Prestigious awards were won at ISPO by several companies for their wool innovations. German company Alpina Sports won Product of the Year in the Snowsports category for its Prolan Vest which is a back protector to help keep skiers or mountain bikers from injury. It consists of three layers of pressed 100% wool and it won the award for its cushioning properties, comfort and sustainable approach.
A seamless running shoe that has a knitted Merino wool inner layer won Italian company UYN a Gold Award in the Fitness & Team Sports category. In the Outdoor category, Icebreaker won a Gold Award for its 100% Merino wool Nature Dye 200 Oasis Long Sleeve Crewe, while Italian company SALEWA won an award for its Fanes Wool Powertex Jacket for women.
A new award category at ISPO this year was the Brandnew category for newcomers to the sporting goods business. Founded in 2018, Berlin-based label mvdham uses only natural fibers, as is the case with its LAPALUE range that uses a padded two- layer fabric made from wool and silk, which won the company the ISPO Brandnew award in the Urban Outdoor category.
Zhejiang Xinao Textiles of China won the ISPO Textrends award for the Base Layer category for its Bundle yarn. The yarn is produced using Hybrid Spinning Technology where ultra-fine Merino wool together with polyamide is ‘bundled’ together during the yarn formation process. Circular knitted fabrics and garments made from the Bundle quality yarn exhibit a high degree of wear performance while maintaining a smooth surface appearance.
This article appeared in the March 2020 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged, however prior permission must be obtained from the Editor.
