Noble Wilde - A New Natural Clothing Range for Cosy Toes
Cosy Toes is excited to introduce a new women's clothing range.
Extremely warm, soft, internationally known, elegant and natural.
Merino Possum knitwear from Noble Wilde.
Noble Wilde is a New Zealand owned manufacturer producing Merino Possum knitwear. Merino Possum yarn is unique
to New Zealand and an internationally well know fibre. Only New Zealand can sustainably produce the required possum fur. And New Zealand is on of only a handful of countries producing premium quality fine Merino Wool. Possum Merino - The Unique Characteristics
The possum fibre has a hollow core. The significance of this is two fold, firstly, the hollow core traps a tunnel of air that provides extra-ordinary warmth (up to 30% more than a 100% wool garment).
The only other animal with a hollow core fibre is the Polar Beer. Secondly, the hollow core creates a fibre lighter than most other natural fibres. In practice by blending 40% possum fibre into the yarn you can reduce the overall weight of a garment by more than 20%.
Merino Possum yarn is highly resistant to pilling.
Therapeutic benefits: There is scientific evidence that an enzyme in the possum fibre helps combat skin conditions like athlete's foot and eczema.
Moisture vapour transmission: Both possum and Merino fibres have a complex structure with a hydrophilic (water holding) interior, known as the cortex, and a hydrophobic (water repelling) exterior known as the cuticle. Merino possum fabric will absorb and expel moisture vapour from the external environment or the body micro climate (this is between the body and the clothing layer). This type of fabric is referred to as "breathable". Merino possum fabrics can absorb low levels of moisture without feeling damp, allowing the fibre to buffer the body's micro climate in changing conditions.
Product and Technical Information
Brushtail possums were first introduced into New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur industry. By 1900 the reported damage to native flora and fauna, crops and orchards prompted the government to commission investigations by two of the countries leading botanists. It was agreed that the potential long-term effects on the environment if left unchecked would be devastating.
By the 1940's, evidence of damage by possums to New Zealand's forest increased. The need for action on a national scale
was recognized, and in 1951 a bounty was placed on the animal, but this did little to control the increasing and expanding population of possums.
In the early 1960's possums had spread to 84% of the country. Today possums are considered the major animal pest in New Zealand with the number of possums estimated to exceed 70 million (twice the number of sheep). Possums are ravenous eaters that consume a staggering amount of native vegetation, which is in excess of 21,000 tonnes per day.
The idea of blending Merino wool and possum fibres was first developed in 1992 by a New Zealand knitter. Merino Possum knitwear was developed as a by-product of the possum control program, making the Merino possum blend and environmentally sound choice.
Saving Trees
In New Zealand Brushtail possums have no natural predators, they are an ecological scourge, eating our native vegetation in very large amounts daily. Therefore they kill trees as they go, defying control measures.
A now-maturing responsible possum fur industry offers some hope of reducing this threat to manageable levels.
Possums are not farmed for this clothing industry.
Merino possum is sustainable. And by wearing it you will are supporting efforts to contain a serious challenge to New Zealand's beautiful flora and fauna.