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Australia:Intelligent eco merino wool supply chain solution - ''imerino'' |
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2004-8-24
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When a West Australian merino wool grower starts thinking, the world better look out! Or is that, the world will be better looking? Stuart Adams managing director of ''i- merino,'' based in Kojonup, WA wanted to make an eco-supply chain of merino wool.
Not only did he do it, but he was awarded an EU Ecolabel (''flower'') on the way. It wasn’t long before Sue Thomas of RMIT Fashion had heard about the new label and the fabric.
“The fabric is a real world class achievement; the first merino fabric in the world to receive the EU Ecolabel.
This fabric addresses our student’s gravest concerns about the supply chain, so now they can design innovative garments with responsibility and ethics in mind. It has a gorgeous handle, feels beautiful against the skin and we know its provenance! Just like a master piece, because it’s ''i-merino,'' we know its history,” said Thomas.
With Adams, her colleague and sustainability expert Anthea van Kopplen, and the second year fashion students of the Bachelor of Design they worked on a sustainability project.
They were challenged by Adams to create a range of separates for the international active wear market, which would be functional and practical for maybe bushwalking or rock-climbing and stylish in an urban café in Melbourne, Vancouver or Aspen.
The designs of six students were selected which they made into a collection of prototypes to demonstrate the unique qualities of the fabric.
“What could be more relevant than Australian merino wool growers, world leaders in merino wool technology and raw material production, rethinking their production methods to produce merino fabrics that are soft, light, luxurious and environmentally responsible? We were all very excited to have the opportunity to work with ''i- merino,'' and Macquarie Textiles in the development of these relevant cutting edge designs,’ said Anthea van Kopplen.
The collection was taken by Adams to the UK, Canada & the USA to show international fashion houses and major labels, receiving positive feedback from Katherine Hamnett and Jaeger in the UK.
At Arc’teryx in Canada the designers insisting on wearing some of the garments! The final and best experience was showing the collection at the Organic Exchange conference, hosted by Nike, in Portland Oregon, where Heidi McCloskey Global Sustainability Director – Apparel, of Nike said she was very impressed with the garments and the fabrics, as were many other well known .North American brands. The collection will be on display in Copenhagen throughout EU Ecolabel ''Flowerweek'' celebrations in October, the garments will also feature at the ''night of culture'' as part of the celebrations during the week.
“The project has had a terrific outcome, the designs have inspired organisations across the globe to reconsider their approach to using merino and a garment in hand proves that environmental assurance does not need to sacrifice fabric quality, we will be looking forward to our next project with RMIT Fashion” said Adams
The students said: “It is easy to work with and takes shapes beautifully, it feels great” said fashion student Pia Interlandi. “This is the best quality fabric I’ve ever worked with.
It’s beautiful and so soft, and more important is the peace of mind.” Rene Kinimonth, fashion student “I wanted to do something important, useful as a designer, it has to be sustainability. We need to think about sustainability; it’s the way to go. Because people don’t know how bad ‘natural’ fabrics can be. I Merino is natural, and good!” Sarah Carpenter, fashion student. It’s important to be responsible and think about the consequences of what you do as a designer.
Using i-merino I feel I am contributing to a better environment.” Yuan Yue Chin, fashion student. “It’s wonderful to see sustainability is permeating one of the most sustainability industries. Natural fibres are the way of the future.” Sam Fisher fashion student I chose to work sustainability because it is a very viable way to take a fashion garment and make it appreciated more.
"A way to revalue the fashion system, especially in relation to the fashion seasons and production. i- merino is a very beautiful fabric, it’s ethical in the way it has been produced and very good quality. It’s Australian too, I think it’s great,” said Liam Revell, fashion student. |
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