Overseas Fashions Affect N.Z.'s Demand For Own Wool

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29258, 16 July 1960, Page 12

Overseas Fashions Affect N.Z.'s Demand For Own Wool

(IVew Zealano Press Association)

TIMARU, July 15. ‘‘New Zealand mills have been criticised strongly by the farming community for using synthetic fibre but it should be understood that the mills don't particularly like processing them. They would much prefer to handle pure woollen goods,” said the general manager, and a director of Alliance Textiles (Mr B. A. R. Spence > in Timaru today - "We in New Zealano do not create fashions They are set overseas, and we must follow them." said Mr Spence "Fashion trends overseas have caused a drop tn the consumption of wool per head in New Zealand—from three-piece suits for men to two; from all-woollen trousers to Ivy League and cotton, and jeans There is also an over-all trend towards lighter weight clothing tor men and women. , “Yet, in the latest figures available (in the New Zealand Wool Board's World Wool Digest, of May 14. 1959) the consumption of

wool per head in 1957 was 5.91 b in the United Kingdom, 7.11 b in Australia, and B.llb in New Zealand "It is very conspicuous in overseas journals that synthetic fibre manufacturers advertise extensively, whereas the International Wool Secretariat is almost girlishly bashful in its approach to advertising.” be added. Mr Spence produced the latest edition of "‘Vogue” Nylon, brilon, and terylene were featured but wool did not merit a mention ‘ Ambassador” fashion magazine devoted about 40 pages to synthetics and one page—in black and white, and devoid of illustrations—to wools.