Fleece to fabulous: Wool Zone Ravensdown Canterbury A&P Show
From fleece to fashion, furnishings, skincare, and fireproof clothing, step inside the Wool Zone at the Ravensdown Canterbury A&P Show next month to find the innovators showcasing the incredible potential of wool.
From raw wool straight off the farm to beautifully finished products, the Wool Zone (part of the Ravensdown Canterbury A&P Show from 11 to 13 November) is showcasing the remarkable versatility of one of New Zealand’s most familiar natural fibres – and offering plenty of tempting shopping opportunities along the way.
“It’s a must-see,” says Wool Committee chair and long-time wool enthusiast Anne Rogers. “We want our visitors to understand and experience just how many ways they can utilise wool in their everyday lives.”
And there’s no shortage of inspiration. One of the Wool Zone’s big attractions is the way it brings the wool story full circle. Alongside some of the country’s finest fleeces entered in the Wool Committee’s annual fleece competition, visitors will find wool transformed into everything from lighting and acoustic panels to insulation, clothing, homewares, garden accessories and much more. For Anne, having the raw and finished products side by side is part of what makes the Wool Zone so special, “this is very unique in New Zealand”.
Among this year’s exhibitors are creators, manufacturers and businesses finding new ways to put wool to work. Wool Hoop will showcase its distinctive wool lighting, including pieces from its recent installation at Wellington Library. The New Zealand Collective will display a variety of wool-based innovations, including printing inks made from wool derivatives, that create new markets and demand for wool. Jaedon, a new exhibitor, will demonstrate the unexpected possibilities of wool with a bright yellow fireproof jacket designed for industrial and commercial use.
And then there are the woollen favourites: sheepskin products, merino babywear, outdoor wear, fashion, interior furnishings, traditional knitwear, hats, rugs, blankets, toys, bedding, bags, garden products, skin and hair care and beautifully crafted homewares.
But for Anne, it’s the stories and people behind the products who really bring the Wool Zone to life. Scratch beneath the products and you’ll find another story – one about people, ideas and a determination to give wool a new lease of life. Many of the exhibitors have strong connections to farming fleece itself, and she is keen for visitors to discover the creativity and enterprise growing from that relationship.
There’s another theme woven through the Wool Zone: collaboration. As one example, last year a custom-designed chair brought a furniture maker and a sheepskin business together to create a show-stopper furniture piece. This year the entrance feature promises more exciting co-creations.
So come and see wool in a different light – from the fleece that starts the journey to the clever, beautiful and sometimes surprising things it can become. And yes, there’ll be plenty to buy.
Find the Wool Zone at the Ravensdown Canterbury A&P Show at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November.
Book your tickets at theshow.co.nz.
