Are you ready for Mother's Day?

Woolerina is the perfect choice for your Mum this Mother's Day - there are so many options for budgets big and small!

Woolerina's 2013 range features some lovely colours to brighten up your Mum's Winter wardrobe:

Electric Blue	Cherry Red	Leaf Green	Lipstick Pink

Singlets ($65.00) in our lightweight 160gsm fabric are a great option for wearing under other clothing or on their own when it's warmer

Long Sleeve T's work well on their own & all are just $89.00

Polo (fabric weight 160gsm)	Long Sleeve V (fabric weight 230gsm)	Long Sleeve Crew (fabric weight 230gsm)	Long Sleeve Scoop (fabric weight 160gsm)

But if you don't want to worry about sizing, a scarf, neckwarmer, beanie or pair of socks is always a winner, as is a Gift Voucher!

Scarf - $43.50	Beanie - $27.50 Neckwarmer - $27.50	Socks - all styles $20	Gift Vouchers - $100, $150 & $200

Woolerina can even gift wrap & ship directly to your Mum - just type GIFT WRAP, and write her a message, in the comments section at the check out when you order.

Head over to our website to shop online now www.woolerina.com.au or phone our office (02)68512100.

Be sure to "like" us on Facebook for regular updates & our weekly Woolly Fact on Friday! And finally, Woolerina has crossed Bass Strait for the annual trip to the AGFEST Field Days - more details on this & our other event plans (including the Celebration of Wool at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Canberra) at our event page.

In 2013 Woolerina became accredited to use the Ethical Clothing Australia logo - this logo represents not only quality of workmanship but also that all employees working in the production of Woolerina clothing are paid fair wages and work in good conditions. In choosing to purchase a product which features the Ethical Clothing logo, you can rest assured that you are supporting businesses who care about their workers.

In March 2013 Ethical Clothing Australia featured an article on Woolerina's director, Warwick Rolfe - read the article below & discover a little more of what drives the "Woolerina story"!

With a Fashion Industry Forum dedicated to “The Wool Renaissance”, wool has pride of place at the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. The Australian Wool Innovation explains that the vast majority of Australian wool is classified as fine apparel, suited to the manufacture of high-quality fashion apparel. Recognized by many as the world’s whitest, softest and most lavish natural fibre, Australian Merino wool has won its spur.

Among the passionate people who have dedicated years in building-up Australian wool quality and reputation, you will find Warwick Rolfe. Warwick has spent 30 years in the industry. Before delving into the retail sector with the Woolerina range of 100% pure Australian merino wool clothing, Warwick was a wool buyer, classer and broker. “The day I walked into the wool stores in Sydney on my first day as a wool buyer, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I just love wool”. Warwick then went on to spend time classing in sheds in central NSW before moving to Forbes in 1980 where he opened the doors of Jemalong Wool, spending 25 years as a wool broker. After a few years spent working in other agricultural industries, the call of the fleece saw him return to his main love in the early 2000’s, initially working with The Egelabra Wool Grower’s Association to improve market prospects for member’s wool lots. Warwick spent time working with early stage processors to develop a beautifully fine yarn and then with knitters to create a very fine fabric.

With wool now being sourced from the well-recognised fine wool growing regions of Boorowa and Yass in NSW, the Woolerina story continues to remain close to Forbes. With no fine-wool processing plants left in Australia, the greasy wool must now be processed and spun into yarn off-shore, however it is returned to Australia where Warwick collects it from the docks in Melbourne and from there the yarn makes its way through knitting, dying, cutting and sewing before being packed up and warehoused at Woolerina’s base at Forbes in central NSW. “It’s a long process with a few middle-men, however the passion to keep our product as Australian made as possible is very strong” Warwick say. “If I had to send any more of the process off-shore, I just wouldn’t do it; I’m passionate about supporting industry in Australia”.

Welcome to Woolerina’s 2013 season!

The women’s skirt has also been re-worked and is slimmer, shorter and made in our heavy 420gsm fabric for a better fit.

It’s on again, Woolerina’s annual SALE! Visit our website where you will find a great range of bargains across the entire Woolerina range.

With so many uses for Woolerina’s garments, you will be sure to find Christmas gifts for all your loved ones….and hopefully a reason to grab something for yourself!

We would like to thank you for your continued support of Woolerina by offering FREE POSTAGE on all orders placed between now & 31^st January 2013, simply enter DCFreePost at the checkout.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for our Pick of the Woolerina Flock as well as keep up to date on our plans for 2013 and to share Woolerina with your friends.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year from The Woolerina Team

The following article was featured at online magazine Australian Manufacturing last week.....

As the cold winter swings into full force, many of us are layering up with almost every piece of clothing we can find in the wardrobe. Practical in extreme cold & wet conditions – Australian made Woolerina garments are the ideal choice for everyday wear.

Made in Forbes, NSW, Woolerina produces 100% natural, sustainable, fully recyclable garments using the highest quality and most comfortable Australian Merino. Proudly Australian made, Woolerina outsources some operations to Melbourne and Sydney based businesses, including knitting, dying, cutting and sewing.

With stockists in the UK and Canada, online sales has been the winner for the company when it comes to exporting globally, with customers from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France and Spain all wearing the soft, durable garments.

“The Woolerina story is quite unique in a world of mass imports – business principal Warwick Rolfe personally selects all the wool, directly off-farm, which goes into all Woolerina fabrics, this wool is then closely followed through processing, knitting, dying to garment construction. Warwick’s passion for the merino fibre and sharing the unique Woolerina story with consumers plays an important part in growing the Woolerina brand.”

As the retail sector continues to struggle, and Australia garment manufacturers are constantly pressured to outsource overseas, the team at Woolerina believes success comes from sticking to what you know.

“Woolerina is passionate about not following trends too closely or trying to imitate the styles and designs of some of the larger businesses – we are sticking to the formula which has proven successful since Woolerina began manufacturing in 2006 – simple garment design and basic colours. This principal has proved very popular amongst our customers who are looking for a garment that will be practical in a range of applications, from outdoor activities, to travel, to a basic fashion piece. The versatility of one Woolerina garment means that it is a product consumers can see a need for rather than simply a want.

Woolerina’s main selling method continues to be “taking it to the people” through markets, festivals, fairs and field days where consumers can touch and feel the product and we can provide education, however Woolerina has also had an online store for over six years now. Following a website overhaul two years ago, online sales have grown rapidly and Woolerina’s online shop is proving a great way for consumers from both around Australia and around the world, to purchase at anytime and from anywhere,” Penny Rout, Woolerina.

With Winter now well and truely here, the Woolerina staff have been pulling out all their Woolerina gear, mixing it up each day! Despite one of the wonders of wool being low odour retention and soiling and therefore reduced need to wash, we all reach the point where we've got to put on a load!

So, in honour of turning your washing machine cycle to the Wool & Delicates cycle, we thought we'd share our top tips for taking care of your Woolerina garments to make sure that they last you for a long time!

washing

We recommend you wash your Woolerina products in the washing machine on a gentle cycle (or hand wash) in warm water up to 40C using a wool approved detergent. Dry in the shade.

Do Not use bleach, as this will destroy the fibre. Do Not tumble dry.

We have specially selected a gentle Wool Wash which we can highly recommend for its abiliity effectively wash & condition your garments, restoring them to their pre-wear beauty!

ironing

Use a steam iron on a medium heat with a damp cloth.

storing

Always fold your Woolerina garments, never hang them. Always store in a dry place and ensure products are clean before storing as clean garments are less susceptible to attacks from moths. When you are storing your garments for any extended length of time, always store with a moth deterrent.

You can visit the Care of your Garments page on our website for more.

Happy wearing & caring for your Woolerina!

With the beginning of Winter, it's time to think about making sure the little people in your life have the right clothing to get them through the cooler months. Dressing children and babies for colder days and nights can be such an arduous task, trying to get them into layer after layer makes them uncomfortable and irritated. Depending on climate, one or two layers of Woolerina may be all that they need.

The fabrics used in the Woolerina children's and babies ranges are the same as those used in all Woolerina products - providing softness, machine-washability, durability and above all, comfort! The natural characteristics of Merino wool make it the ideal choice for babies and children's wear providing natural breathability, moisture absorption, hear retention and dispersion capabilities.

Medical studies confirm that babies who wear or are wrapped in Merino wool boast improved sleep patterns, increased weight gain, are more content and have a reduced risk of SIDS.

Merino wool's superior ability to respond to changes in both body and atmospheric temperature helps to reduce dampness and skin irritation, while its anti-microbial properties ensure that your children are exposed to fewer pathogens, reducing sickness and allergies.

Woolerina garments also come with an inbuilt safety aspect as Merino wool is fire-retardant, anti-static and acid resistant. As a flame retardant, wool will not melt and stick to the skin and will self-extinguish when the source of the flame is removed. Merino wool is also more UV resistant than many other fibres, including cotton and synthetic.

With a range of styles, sizes and colours, it's not hard to find something in the Woolerina children's and babies ranges for all your kids. Perfect in the day when they're running around and don't want to be weighed down down by bulky layers and just as good at night - with studies confirming improved sleep, a set of Woolerina children's PJ's has to be a sound investment!

Another of Merino's great natural attributes is its reduced soiling capability and low odour absorption/ retention properties....this means less washing and more wearing, you don't necessarily need lots of Woolerina items in your child's wardrobe!

An additional resource with more in-depth information is www.wool.com - the health page is especially good!

Time to think about what you'll be buying your Mum for Mother's Day and at Woolerina we've picked the things Woolerina Mother's love most...

Our new long sleeve scoop neck dress...in basic black or grey, it's perfect worn with a bright coloured scarf.	For the stylish larger lady, a long sleeve crew teamed with a long-line cardi...the ultimate outfit this Winter!	This skirt can be casual for day and amazingly stylish dressed-up for a night out! Wear with a Woolerina long sleeve and scarf for pure comfort.