Men's Possum & Wool Double Layer Sweater

Unique possum and wool, double layer sweater that insulates body heat and cuts out the “lazy” wind.

Robust and made to last. Possum and wool, double layer system enables you to maintain your optimum body temperature (36.6^oC) by cutting out the lazy wind and trapping heat. Tried and tested in rough working conditions throughout New Zealand – from shearing sheds, building sites and even an oyster dredge in Foveaux Strait.

This sweater is made with a double layer, or plated, knit. “Plating” is the simultaneous formation of one loop from two threads, so that one thread will lie on the face of the fabric while the other thread is fed to the needles to form the inside, or reverse, of the garment. This results in an outer face of strong, weather resistant, New Zealand wool, and an inner face of soft, insulating possum.

The inner layer is made using Ecoblend yarn which is created using fibre fluff that is normally discarded during the yarn manufacturing process. This is collected and respun to create an entirely new yarn with exceptional properties. It is an innovation that has turned production waste into premium yarn that combines the best characteristics of its component fibres. Ecoblend contains 25% Recycled Possum Fibre, 60% Natural Fibres (Silk, Wool and Angora) and 15% Nylon.

The strong, close knit wool exterior, with contrast zipped collar, looks great for any casual use, while still being a high performance, technical garment for anyone working or playing in the outdoors.

Features

• Contrast collar able to be zipped up into a high roll neck
• Double ribbed cuffs, collar and hem
• Made with double layer technology – inner layer = 25% recycled possum fur, 60% natural fibres (including wool) and 15% nylon; outer layer = 100% pure New Zealand wool (28 micron)
• Made in New Zealand

About Possum Wool

Due to its hollow nature, the possum fur fibre is incredibly insulating and provides exceptional thermal warmth without weight. It must be blended, in this case with wool and nylon, to create yarn that is soft, lightweight, exceptionally warm and easy to wear. It won’t pill, it’s anti-static and is an innovative and practical market solution to an environmental challenge facing New Zealand.

Care Directions

Please follow those on care label attached to the garment. Warm hand wash with a gentle detergent. Warm rinse well. Lay flat to dry in the shade. Do not bleach. Do not tumble dry. Drycleanable.

About the Brushtail Possum

The Australian Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a medium sized marsupial and was introduced into New Zealand in 1837. It is from a completely different family to that of the American Opossum, and has a fur quality similar to Mink. With no natural predators, numbers exploded to approximately 70 million in the 1980s, with possums chewing their way through 21 000 tons of native vegetation each night. As well as competing directly with native birds for food, possums eat birds’ eggs, chicks and insects. Their voracious appetite threatens the survival of many of our native plants, insects and birds, including the iconic flightless kiwi.

Animal health and conservation authorities spend many millions of dollars each year on trapping and controversial poisoning campaigns in attempts to control the pest. In addition, the possum fur industry helps to keep the possum numbers down. Recent figures have shown that due to two decades of control, possum numbers have dropped to approximately 45 million. However, we must remain vigilant as with no natural predators, New Zealand conditions are so favourable for possums, they are often able to breed twice a year and could easily and rapidly increase in numbers once again.

New Zealand Nature believes in a market solution to the possum problem. Efforts to reduce the millions of possums in New Zealand’s forests have been boosted by companies that blend possum fur with merino wool to make luxurious garments.

So, by choosing to wear our luxurious Possum Merino knitwear from ‘NativeWorld’, you are helping to preserve the fragile and beautiful New Zealand environment – including New Zealand’s unique icon – the Kiwi, (‘NativeWorld’ supports the Kiwi Recovery Programme based in Rotorua). Become part of the solution and wrap up warm in Possum Merino.