Wool Stretch Fabrics Now Made In N.Z.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30454, 30 May 1964, Page 20

Wool Stretch Fabrics Now Made In N.Z.

Otn Z«*l«ad Pren Attorfatton)

WELLINGTON, May 29. ' Pure wool stretch fabrics' are now being made by New Zealand mills, according to a statement issued by the Wool i Board today. This major development enables pure wool cloth to be stretched up to a third of its original length and yet recover its original dimensions immediately the' pressure is released. The stretch process is both a chemical and a mechanical ■■ one. applied during finishing. 1 It was developed by the Australian Wool Board in association with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and has been introduced into New Zealand mills by the technical department of the Wool Board. At present the process Is being applied only to worsteds, but it is hoped to include woollens after further development • Easily Identified A quality control programme has been set up for the wool stretch doth. This will be tied to a labelling

: scheme to the public can easily identify fabrics which meet performance specifications. The technical manager of the Wool Board (Mr M. A. Higgins) says .New Zealand mills are shewing a great deal of interest in the new development. “ft is an inexpensive process and one which belong* to the whole family of chemi, cal setting treatments which give wool many of its present easy care features. “On world markets, these new processes are keeping wool to the fore in spite of competition from other fibres. Not Wasted “It must be a great encouragement to wool-growers to know that the results of research are not being wasted and that new methods developed by wool scientists are being quickly taken up by industry," he said. Although details of this new woo! stretch process have only just been released in New Zealand, mills have already adopted it and pure wool stretch garments made ;from locally produced cloth, ishould be widely available in .retail stores early next year,”' Mr Higgins added.