Research Suggests That Wool Popularity is on the Rise

On this week’s Dian Skelton blog, I will be discussing the suggestion that the popularity of wool is on the rise. Although one particular article on this matter points out that wool productions for the 2014/2015 period is expected to be at its lowest for 70 years, it would seem that wool is now a premium fabric product.

Dian Skelton is Director at ViewPoint Software Services Limited, founder of the MostlyManx artisan shop on the Isle of Man and co-owner of the Laxey Woollen Mills. The Mills specialises in producing Laxey Manx Tartan which is unique to the Isle of Man.

One of the key acknowledgments from Premiere Vision in Paris was that Europeans are ditching their work suits in favour of woollen jackets and sports coats, with experts predicting an upward trend for the local woollen industry. Eamon Timms from wool broker’s Fox and Lillie Rural, described this trend as a ‘casualisation’ on the traditional dress code.  

A Lucrative Industry

The latter sentiment is further supported by the financial figures involved in the woollen industry. Wool apparel sells for a retail value of around $80 billion across the world and its price often averages five to seven times more than cotton.

Leading wool producer Australia has experienced recent droughts that have contributed to the decline of wool production as well as New Zealand, China and the U.S. further curtailing production. This goes some way to explaining the 70 year low that wool production is currently at. However, there is greater optimise for 2015 having seen Australian sheep numbers level after a 20 year decline.

Wool Popularity Growing in the Fashion Industry

In a recent article by ABC.net, a student at RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles, Samantha Bruechert, said that more and more designers were looking at wool when creating evening and formal wear describing it as a renewed enthusiasm for wool in the fashion industry. “There are a lot more local designers who are emphasising the use of [wool]”

Dian Skelton’s Thoughts

As you will know, Dian Skelton reader, Dian is a firm advocate of tradition and education. She echoed the sentiment of Mr Timms when he said “Do what your country does best, and grow the most of it that you can.” Dian also said she was pleased to see younger fashion designers like Miss Bruechert promoting the use of wool and using it creatively.   

Dian Skelton – Director – ViewPoint Software Services Limited

Kendal Wool Festival Returns for a Second Year

Previously on the Dian Skelton blog I brought you the news that the Yarndale festival was returning in September 2014 following a successful turn out last year. Similarly with the Kendal Wool Gathering, which enjoyed huge success in 2013. The festival will celebrate the town’s association with wool throughout its history.

A Proud Tradition

Dian Skelton is Director at ViewPoint Software Services Limited, founder of the MostlyManx artisan shop on the Isle of Man and co-owner of the Laxey Woollen Mills. The Mills specialises in producing Laxey Manx Tartan which is unique to the Isle of Man.

More than 4,000 came out for last year’s event which is held at the K Village shopping centre in Kendal. The festival offers a mixture of demonstrations, fun activities and displays all relating to the cloth on which the town was built.

Some of the key participant from last year have also announced their intentions to return this year, many of them are artisan businesses who specialise in wool and crafts. Similar to the Yarndale festival, the Kendal Wool Gathering gives artisans the opportunity to showcase their unique crafts.

As well as this, there is clearly a desire to maintain a level of tradition, with historian Roger Bingham been invited to give a talk on Kendal’s wool heritage. The Westmorland Agricultural Society will also provide livestock and displays, a discussion on sheep breeds and life on the fells. This aspect of the Kendal Gathering is perhaps unique in that it offers an insight into the processes by which the wool is produced.

An Opportunity to Educate

The Kendal Collaborative Partner-ship, a co-operative of Kendal primary schools has approached teachers to implement Kendal’s wool heritage into the Ghyllside school curriculum. The results of the changes implemented into the curriculum will be revealed at the Gathering when children will be given the opportunity to show what they have learned.

Dan Duxbury of Ghyllside school commented on the curriculum implementations, “Living where we do it is important that all of our children have the opportunity to learn about the way in which Kendal has grown and developed largely due to the thriving woollen industry.”

Dian Skelton’s Thoughts

Dian was particularly keen to praise the Kendal tradition. Speaking on the curriculum changes, Dian said it was an excellent opportunity to keep the tradition of Kendal’s wool industry alive by educating the young.

Dian Skelton – Director – ViewPoint Software Services Limited      

Yarndale Festival Returns to North Yorkshire

On this week’s Dian Skelton blog I will be discussing the announcement that the Yarndale festival will return following the 6,500 strong turnout success of the first festival last year. As you may have gathered my readers, the ‘Yarn’dale festival celebrates “all things woolly and wonderful”.

Artisans Coming Together

Dian Skelton is Director at ViewPoint Software Services Limited, founder of the MostlyManx artisan shop on the Isle of Man and co-owner of the Laxey Woollen Mills. The Mills specialises in producing Laxey Manx Tartan which is unique to the Isle of Man.

Officially called Yarndale 2014, the festival is an excellent opportunity to bring together artisans of yarn, fibres, haberdashery, kits, books, handmade garments and artwork. It also hosts a full programme of textile workshops that include lessons in Crochet, knitting and cloth dyeing. These programmes  

The official Yarndale website describes the event. ‘Artisans and retailers of the highest quality are selected to exhibit at Yarndale which makes it very inspiring for anyone with a love of yarn.’ The festival will once again take place at the market town of Skipton; an ideal location for such an event given its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales.

Enthusiasts Keeping Tradition Alive

As readers of the Dian Skelton blog will know, Dian is a keeper of traditions. Her ties to the Laxey Woollen Mills and Laxey Manx Tartan prove this. For Yorkshire, the wool industry used to be a thing of pride and tradition. That’s not to say that it isn’t any longer, but the cheap cost of imports and synthetic wool has shrunk and damaged an industry that once clothed the modest and the wealthy without distinction.

So, in some ways, the Yarndale festival harks back to the days where Yorkshire wool was a symbol of the county. Likeminded people gathering to celebrate a tradition that they were proud of, as a recent Yorkshire Post article addressed, the Yorkshire wool industry was prolific.

Dian Skelton’s Thoughts

Dian effectively promote the same concept as the Yarndale festival. The MostlyManx shop serving as a literal shop window for some of the highly skilled artisans that populate the Isle of Man. These artisans bare the Manx name as does the Tartan that the mills create, it does get much more traditional than that.

Dian was keen to describe her pleasure at seeing a group of people showing such enthusiasm to keep traditions alive. Given her Manx heritage, Dian commented on the importance of maintaining the identity of a specific region.    

Dian Skelton – Director – ViewPoint Software Services Limited  

Tartan Fabric Producers Benefiting From Russian Interest

Mcnaughton Holdings, the kilts to furniture fabric maker, have announced a 300 per cent increase in sales as a result in a surge of interest from super rich Russian oligarchs and the UK.

On this week’s Dian Skelton blog I will be discussing why sales have surged for tartan producers and what this means for the industry.

Russia Overtaking Germany

Dian Skelton is Director at ViewPoint Software Services Limited, founder of the MostlyManx shop on the Isle of Man and co-owner of the Laxey Woollen Mills. The Mills specialises in producing Laxey Manx Tartan which is unique to the Isle of Man.

Mcnaughton Holdings reported a 15 per cent increase in sales rising from £3.9 million to £4.2 million in the year to January. Of that increase, exports made up around 44 per cent of sales for both years. The growth can be attributed to Russia’s demand for high end furniture fabrics for hotels.

After a long economic downturn, Managing Director Blair Mcnaughton expressed his delight at seeing a significant growth in the sector. Commenting on the sales increase last year he said, “Sales in the current year to date are something like 200% up in Russia. That's a huge market for us.”

Focusing on Niche Markets

Mr Mcnaughton said that their success has come about after they decided to focus on niche markets last year having seen several years of decline prior. Companies like Johnstons of Elgin, who specialise in cashmere fabric, have also decided to focus on specialist markets with equally positive results.

Mr Mcnaughton said, “We very quickly realised the only way to go was by niching ourselves.” He also pointed out that there is a certain amount of disclosure between Scottish firms whereby they share specific information or leads that might benefit one another.

Mcnaughton Remains Bullish

Despite positive sales figures Mr Mcnaughton was bullish when commenting on the future. “Too many of the company's overhead costs increased at rates that were greater than the Retail Price Index with suppliers often attributing the inflation busting increases to fuel and climate change costs.”

Dian Skelton’s Thoughts

Given Dian’s affiliation with the Laxey Woollen Mills and Laxey Manx Tartan, she was keen to comment of the story. Dian said that she was pleased to see such a significant growth in an industry that people don’t really perceive as being lucrative or attractive.

She also praised the business foresight of companies like Mcnaughton Holdings for recognising and adapting to changes in the market and the need to focus on niche clients as a way forward. As a final comment she said it was also great to see tartan remaining ever popular as a symbol of tradition.   

For more information of ViewPoint Software Services please visit their Contact Page.

Dian Skelton – Director – ViewPoint Software Services Limited  

New Zealand Wool Referendum Gives Hope to Industry

A referendum proposed for October will request farmers to vote for the reinstatement of a levy on wool within the New Zealand wool industry. The levy would be between 2 and 5 cent per kilogram for greasy or slipe wool and would fund $4.6 million of good industry activity each year.

In this week’s Dian Skelton blog, I will be discussing this potential levy and what it will mean for the New Zealand wool industry and farmers.

An Industry in Need

Dian Skelton is Director at ViewPoint Software Services Limited, founder of the MostlyManx shop on the Isle of Man and co-owner of the Laxey Woollen Mills. The Mills specialises in producing Laxey Manx Tartan which is unique to the Isle of Man.

Some experts in the industry will acknowledge the need for such a levy, citing the somewhat stagnant condition of the wool industry in New Zealand as well as the need for leadership and direction. It would also fund good industry activities like research, education and promotion of the industry.

Sandra Faulkner, chairwoman of the Wool Levy Group said “Sheep farmers can help shape the direction of the wool industry by voting 'yes' in a referendum to reintroduce a wool levy to fund industry good activities of benefit to farmers and the wider wool industry."

She also commented on the need for an industry good body for the wool industry “There are 30 industry good bodies in New Zealand, yet wool is the only primary sector which is not represented.” I doing this, there is a hope that the aforementioned good industry activities would become a reality.

Opponents Want Proof of Benefits

The Wools of New Zealand (WNZ) company, which is owned by 700 farmer shareholders, said that it wasn't trying to tell fellow famers how to vote, but urged them to question the purpose of reinstating such a levy. WNZ chairman Mark Shadbolt said “The sheep industry is the sheep industry and it should represent wool and meat. Most of our farm animals are dual purpose and again we question, is this just a further duplication of costs?”

Mr Shadbolt went on to say that the industry already has the facilities in place to do the jobs that the levy would supposedly bring, citing the Wool Industry Research Consortium as an example and reiterated his belief that it would merely add further cost to the industry and potential cripple growers.

Dian Skelton’s Thoughts

Dian commented on the potential levy saying that it was a proposition made with good intentions. However, she voiced her concerns for the wool growers who may be hit by higher prices and the cost of the proposed good industry organisations that Mr Shadbolt suggests are already in place.

As Dian has said, in some cases the best option is to review the facilities you already have in place. If you believe that you need new facilities then it means that the existing ones are not operating to their maximum output. In some cases all that is required is a revamp or modernisation and working in both textiles and software, Dian understands the need to keep up with technology and the industry.

For more information of ViewPoint Software Services please visit their Contact Page.

Dian Skelton – Director – ViewPoint Software Services Limited  

Czech Textile Firms Benefiting From Banking Changes

Last November the Czech National Bank weakened the Czech crown in an effort to boost the countries textile industry. The daily newspaper Hospodářské Noviny published an article that showing sector growth in the first half of 2014.

On this week’s Dian Skelton blog I will be discussing this news and what it means for the Czech Republic’s textile industry.

Banks Supporting Business

Dian Skelton is Director at ViewPoint Software ServicesLimited, founder of the MostlyManx shop on the Isle of Man and co-owner of the Laxey Woollen Mills. The Mills specialises in producing Laxey Manx 

Tartan which unique to the Isle of Man.

Last week I brought you the news that the Bangladesh textile industry was suffering due to archaic regulations set by the national bank, who refused to adapt to modern banking regulations. This news from the Czech Republic is perhaps an example of how particular sectors can benefit from banks who are willing to adapt to market changes.

According to the report from ATOK (Association of the Textile, Clothing and Leather Industry) the Czech textile industry, which is focused primarily on exports, has had its most successful year since the financial crisis hit in 2008.

ATOK Director Jiři Česal commented on the announcement by Hospodářské Noviny confirming that the Czech textile industry had indeed enjoyed a steady 3 year period of growth since the central bank intervened in the currency market.

Česal revealed that the textile makers have seen their revenues increase by 12% to CZK 23.4 billion. Česal went on to say that, despite a very strong first half, he did not expect to see a drop between now and the end of the year.  

A Traditional Industry

For the Czech Republic, textile manufacturing for the garment industry is something of a tradition. However, in recent years the largest firms in the industry are orientated more towards producing material for other industry besides clothing.

These firms are also firmly fall into the export category with the largest, Juta, exporting 80% of its output. Juta is just one example of a firm who have benefited from industry growth, with revenues reaching nearly CZK 6 billion last year.

Dian Skelton’s Thoughts

Commenting on this announcement from the Czech Republic, Dian Skelton has said that she is pleased to see big banks making changes that benefit industries that are perhaps not at the forefront of people’s thoughts.

She went on to say that this particularly important when you consider the situation in Bangladesh, where an industry as important as textiles could be neglected by the national banks reluctance to change.