Behind every premium, ethical wool garment is a skilled team ensuring quality from the very first step:  shearing and wool handling. These professionals play a crucial role in preparing wool fibre for the global supply chain. Yet, in recent years, fewer people have entered the industry, creating a risk of losing talent to other sectors or overseas opportunities. Without proper training, the risk of injury, to both people and animals rises. And because wool harvesting is the first stage of the...

Recently, FOUR PAWS, an international animal welfare organisation, released its Certification Insights Report assessing 12 textile standards against 19 criteria – 8 foundational and 11 spotlight issues. We’re proud to share that ZQ Certification ranked as the top wool standard, meeting 7 out of 8 foundational criteria and committing to achieve the final one within the next 12 months. This was the highest number of criteria met and commitment among the wool standards reviewed. While this...

We’re proud to announce a major step forward in transparency: The New Zealand Merino Company now digitally traces 100% of ZQ and ZQRX certified wool through TextileGenesis™. While ZQ and ZQRX wool have always been traceable, this expansion builds on a successful pilot and makes digital traceability the new standard for all brands sourcing ZQ and ZQRX wool - at no extra cost. Using TextileGenesis’ Fibercoin™ technology, every kg of wool is tracked from farm to finished product, giving brands...