Taking wool by the horns

Two identical twins had their outfits tested at AgResearch's media lunch today with the Textile Tracer to see which was an 'authentic' and which was a 'fake' Stitch Ministry garment, and a male model was blowtorched wearing their burn-resistant wool vest. The aim of AgResearch is to publicise the new developments possible with wool to attract the attention of companies in fabric and textile manufacturing.

The unique Verifi Textile Tracer, a hand-held portable device which can detect fake designer garments - a world-first- demonstrated on two identical twins, by Robert Finch, pictured left. Finch held the scanner over the garments and it picked up fibres in the authentic one, changing from a red light to green. Finch said there has been significant interest in it from value-chain manufacturers and it will be of huge interest to brands seeking to identify fakes as you now don't have to destroy the garment in a lab to authenticate it.

Textiles scientists demonstrated a range of revolutionary fabrics they have invented at AgResearch's media conference today including this stab and burn resistant fabric, seen below. Dr Peter Ingham first stabbed the fabric with a screwdriver in a Basic Instinct demo on a mannequin "We couldn't find a real model to do this bit!" before taking to a live model with open flames. He said the fabric has uses for industries such as prison guards because it's similar to Swanndri fabric and not thick and sweaty like police armour.

The Burn-resistant fabric, worn by a slightly nervous looking male model, had a blowtorch applied to it. He took off his vest proving he'd emerged unscathed- albeit slightly red from the heat- making all the female media come over a bit concerned; replacing their 'Get it off' comments with 'Oh he's a bit red.'

Paul Blomfield spoke on behalf of the apparel industry, saying wool has had a strong and emotive role in New Zealand's history from Gallipoli beaches to Peter Black to Sir Ed Hillary to Naomi Lange's pick cardi. "It's close to our hearts, it's our historical heritage." Even The Fashion Four in London wouldn't have gone ahead without the support of the Wool Board and Government sponsorship. Nowadays, our great export fashion labels - Icebreaker, Untouched World and Sabatini- are using Superfine, Merino and possum fibres. "Wool needs to be ethical, green, and accessible to be a fabric of the future" Blomfield said.

A short catwalk show previewed of some of the unique merino fabrics chosen by ten of New Zealand's leading fashion designers to create the AgResearch Designer Collection which will feature in Air New Zealand Fashion Week this Friday 19th September, including labels twentysevennames, Salasai, Jimmy D, and Hailwood. 

Garments, designed, free of charge for AgResearch, were modelled from the following designers at the media launch:

Cybele- a structured silver and black dress from Natural Easy Care Wool Suiting that takes the moisture out with a smart fabric.

Anna Stretton - a pink ruffled evening dress in Superfine Merino that doesn't get wet like cotton but keeps you warmer and drier and isn't prickly like wool, making it especially good for underwear and sporting wear.

Sera Lilly - a black full-skirted mini prom dress with a sheer one-shoulder drape made from Natural Easy Care Wool Suiting that is unique in that you cn throw it in the machine wash and tumble dry and it is shrink-resistant without being chemically-treated. This is fantastic news as it's both environmentally-friendly and is cheaper to produce.

Jaeha - a vintage-dyed blue merino cable knit minidress that gave the effect of old denim with an enzyme-washed look.

sherieyvonne- a layered monochrome outfit using Novel knit jacketing in cream and black trousers in Natural easy Care Wool Suiting.

Story and photos, Megan Robinson, September 2008.