From Fleece To High Fashion With Wool

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31547, 8 December 1967, Page 2

From Fleece To High Fashion With Wool

Champion stud rams and three pretty models will compete for star billing in a television film to be made by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation at Darfield today.

The documentary film, which will be based on the Wool Board’s “History of Wool” show, will be set in a wool shed on the Hutton family’s property, “Bangor.” The narrator will be Mr Godfrey Bowen.

The wool promotion show has already been presented at the recent Royal Show in Auckland, at the opening of the Wool Research Organisation and at other smaller functions during the year.

The theme relates the various types of wool grown in New Zealand to the fabrics and fashion garments manufactured from them. As Mr Bowen presents a ram, a model appears in an outfit made from its type of fleece. The fashion collection which will be used in the film is made up from New Zealand manufacturers’ 1968 winter ranges. It was shown in Christchurch yesterday by Miss Jillian Ewart, fashion writer of the Wool Board, who wrote the script for "History of Wool.” Of particular Interest are the summer-weight wool dresses cool enough to wear in comfort when the temperature is in the 70s. These sleeveless, flared shifts in vibrant wool jersey are for dining, dancing, and day wear. Intended for summer, they could go through autumn, winter (with a

matching jacket), spring, and back into summer with confidence.

New also are two filmy nightdress and robe sets in “breezeweight” wdol. One, in cameo pink, is self-trimmed round the decolette neckline of the nightdress and the standaway collar and sleeves of the peignoir with rhine-stone-centred flowers. The baby blue nightdress with a matching hooded cape is appliqued in white lace. Two check suits, which were shown at the International Clothing Exhibition in Moscow earlier this year, are also in the collection. One is double-breasted in yellow, brown and beige tweed; the other is a suit with a classic top coat In clover, black and green.

Three-quarter length “minicoats” with belts and pockets were shown with a selection of co-ordinates. One of the smartest teams a blue and beige check jacket with a plain blue skirt and checked pants. Suit jackets are mainly thigh-length and slightly flared. A topcoat which- caught the eye Is in mulberry and grey plaid spun wool. Gentle flaring falls from a yoke to form the new tent line.

Wool jersey coats worn over matching shifts have been designed for next winter, but could be comfortably worn during the four seasons.

The “fleece to fashion” collection includes a variety of sweaters and cardigans in

glowing winter colours. They were shown with pleated, straight or slightly flared golf skirts—matching the plain skirts or picking up the predominant colour in the plaids.